Vol. 411 No. 7
210 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Education if she will ensure that a person (details supplied) whose parents are unemployed can complete his third level education which he is unable to do due to the lack of finance at present.
The person in question is undertaking a degree course having completed an ESF-aided national diploma course. Under the provisions of the Vocational Education Committee scholarships scheme, it is necessary for a diploma holder to obtain a two year exemption from the degree course in order to be eligible for a Vocational Education Committee scholarship. Accordingly, scholarship assistance cannot be given to the person in question for year 2 of the degree course; he will, however, subject to satisfactory progress, be eligible for consideration for year 3 and 4 of the degree course.
I understand that the City of Waterford Vocational Education Committee have already, orally, informed the applicant of the position.
