Vol. 508 No. 1
943 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Education and Science if a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will have her eligibility for an ESF grant for a course at third level reviewed in view of the circumstances whereby she previously did a separate course; and if this eligibility will be reviewed due to the fact that she did not complete the second year of her course previously. [18263/99]
Under the terms of the ESF maintenance grant scheme, grants are not payable in respect of a repeat year of study on the same course, except at the discretion of the VEC in exceptional circumstances, such as cases of certified serious illness. Furthermore, a grant-holder may generally only receive funding for the approved duration of one ESF aided course However, subject to a maximum funding duration of four years, a grant may be continued for a grant-holder who, having passed, failed or not completed the first year of a course, wishes to transfer to a different course.
944 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Education and Science the circumstances, if any, whereby a person (details supplied) in County Wexford can obtain a higher education grant to repeat the first year of a course in view of the fact his family cannot afford to sustain him at college and he was unsuccessful in exams in this regard. [18264/99]
I understand that the student in question was awarded a grant under the terms of the 1998 European Social Fund-aided maintenance grant scheme.
Under the terms of the ESF maintenance grant scheme, grants are not payable in respect of a repeat year of study on the same course, except at the discretion of the VEC in exceptional circumstances, such as cases of certified serious illness. Furthermore, a grant-holder may generally only receive funding for the approved duration of one ESF aided course. However, subject to a maximum funding duration of four years, a grant may be continued for a grant-holder who, having passed, failed or not completed the first year of a course, wishes to transfer to a different course. I understand that as the student in question failed part of his first year exams and is now repeating first year of the same course, he is ineligible for funding.
I would mention that my Department operates a hardship fund which is administered locally through the third level institutions. One of the objectives of this fund is to assist students in a sensitive and compassionate manner who might otherwise because of financial reasons suffer hardship or be unable to continue third level studies. If the student in question experiences severe financial hardship while attending college he may apply to the student welfare officer at the college he is attending for financial assistance from the hardship fund.
945 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science the maintenance support, if any, he will make available to third level students who qualify for maintenance grant support and who do not succeed in their end of term examin ations during the repeat year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18280/99]
In general, maintenance grants under the various student support schemes are not provided in respect of attendance on the repeat year of any course. This provision can however, be waived by the grant awarding authority in exceptional circumstances, such as certified serious illness. I would point out students may have their grant aid continued for the remainder of the course, once they have successfully completed the repeat year.
There is also provision in the higher education grants scheme and the VEC scholarships scheme for the payment of a grant to a student repeating the same year level of a course where the student is a second chance student, returning to study after a break of at least five years. I have no plans to alter the provisions of the student support schemes as they relate to students who must repeat a year level as a result of not being successful in their end of year examinations.
