Liam Aylward
Ceist:614 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Science whether a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny is entitled to a higher education grant. [21463/99]
Written Answers. - Higher Education Grants.
The arrangement whereby students pursuing post-graduate courses at approved courses in Northern Ireland can apply for grants in respect of their fees and maintenance has historically been a feature of the higher education grants scheme.
In 1996-97, the student support schemes were extended to provide maintenance grants to eligible students following full-time undergraduate courses of at least two years duration in another 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. Certain courses, such as those which are subject to quotas on intake in Ireland, are excluded. The extension of the schemes at the time did not include courses at post-graduate level and accordingly, there is no grant aid available for students pursuing post-graduate studies in England such as that cited by the Deputy in this case.
I am not in a position to extend the current arrangements with effect from the current year and indeed, I should point out that any extension of the current arrangements, to provide for students pursuing post-graduate courses in other parts of Britain and to the EU generally, could only be considered in the light of available resources and other competing demands within the education sector.