Noel Dempsey
Ceist:179 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for Education if she will give details of the higher education grant scheme available for Irish students studying abroad. [11504/96]
Written Answers. - Higher Education Grant Scheme.
The arrangements for the extension of maintenance grants to Irish students studying in other EU member states have been incorporated in the 1996 schemes of student support which have issued recently to all local authorities — VECs.
The schemes provide for the extension of means tested maintenance grants in the 1996-97 academic year to students following a full-time undergraduate course of at least two years duration in an EU member state. The course must be followed in a university or third level institution which is maintained or assisted by recurrent grants from public funds. The following courses are excluded: (i) postgraduate courses; (ii) courses in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, which are subject to a Higher Education Authority quota on places and teacher training including those leading to the award of bachelor of education, also subject to a quota; (iii) courses in colleges of further and higher education; (iv) courses in colleges akin to private commercial colleges in Ireland; (v) courses provided in colleges in Britain which are offered in a private commercial third level college in Ireland and which are validated by that British college.
I will arrange to have copies of the schemes sent to the Deputy.