I understand from the Sligo Vocational Education Committee, the body responsible for the administration of the post leaving certificate maintenance grants scheme, that the normal residence of the student in question is within 15 miles of Ballinode College and, therefore, the student has been awarded a maintenance grant at the adjacent rate.
The student in question was assessed as a candidate other than a mature candidate as she was not aged 23 years on 1 January 2000, the year of entry to her post-leaving certificate course. Under the student support schemes, maintenance grants are payable at either adjacent or non-adjacent rates. Where candidates are assessed as "candidates other than a mature candidate" the adjacent rate of maintenance grant is payable where the grantholder's normal residence is 15 miles or less from the college which she/he is attending.
The terms and conditions of the student support schemes are of general application and, accordingly, it is not possible to make exceptions in individual cases such as this.