Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 22 Nov 1990

Vol. 402 No. 10

Written Answers. - Grant Payment.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

51 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education if a higher education grant is payable to a United Kingdom student, both of whose parents are Irish, who has passed his A Levels and whose parents' income falls within the guidelines; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Education (Mrs. O'Rourke)

The purpose of the higher education grants scheme is to give financial assistance to students ordinarily resident in Ireland who reach a minimum standard in the leaving certificate examination of the Department of Education but, who, because of family circumstances, might not be in a position to proceed to a university or other approved third-level course in Ireland.

There are three main provisions for the award of a grant under this scheme: (i) A candidate must obtain, the prescribed successes in the leaving certificate examination of this Department. Successes in other examinations do not meet this requirement; (ii) The parents or guardians of the candidate must be ordinarily resident in the administrative area of the local authority administering the scheme on 1 October of the year preceding that in which the necessary successes are obtained in the leaving certificate, and (iii) the total income of the candidate and his/her parents must not exceed the relevant income eligibility limit in the scheme of the year he/she sat for the leaving certificate examination.

EC nationals, including Irish nationals, who do not fulfil the normal eligibility requirements set out in the scheme would not be eligible to receive payment of financial assistance in respect of their third-level studies in Ireland.