asked the Minister for Education the reason a higher education grant cannot be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry to enable him to pursue the Bachelor of Commerce degree course in University College, Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - County Kerry Education Grant Application.
271.
The higher education grants scheme provides that (a) a student who completes a course at National Diploma level in a Regional Technical College or College of Technology may have his-her grant continued in respect of attendance at a degree course provided that he-she is exempted from the first two years of the course for the degree by virtue of his-her having completed the Diploma course; (b) a student who does not obtain an exemption from the first and second years of the degree course may have his-her grant continued after he-she has completed at his-her own expense the period of the degree course for which he-she failed to secure the appropriate exemption.
It is understood that the applicant failed to obtain the required two year exemption. He will, therefore, not become eligible to receive grant aid under the higher education grants scheme until he enters third year of his degree course. I suggest that the applicant contact his local authority at that time so that his eligibility may be examined again.
The question of the extent and length of exemptions offered by individual colleges to students following certain courses is a matter for the colleges concerned.