Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 30 Nov 2000

Vol. 527 No. 2

Written Answers. - Higher Education Grants.

Liam Aylward

Ceist:

150 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will consider an appeal to the student services section of his Department by a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny with regard to her application for a mature student grant; and if he will now arrange to have the grant paid and her registration fee refunded in view of the circumstances outlined in her appeal. [28094/00]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

Under the terms of the 2000 third level maintenance grants scheme for trainees, students pursuing 18 month courses leading to the qualifications of national certificates in manufacturing technology and in computing – IT – support, under the accelerated technician programmes, are eligible to apply for grants. Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology – GMIT – has confirmed to my Department that the student, to whom the Deputy refers, pursued an 11 week summer course in computing from 21 June until 5 September at the institute.

While the national certificate in computing – IT – support course is an approved course under the accelerated technician programmes, the summer course being provided in GMIT is not part of that programme and is not an approved course for grants purposes. Therefore, the student in question is not eligible for grant assistance, or to have her registration fee refunded, under the terms of the scheme, in respect of the 11 weeks summer course. However, the student in question was admitted to the 18 month national certificate in computing – IT – support course, under the accelerated technician programme, at Tipperary rural and business development institute – TRBDI – on 25 September 2000. As this course is approved for the purposes of the Third Level Maintenance Grants Scheme for Trainees, 2000, the student is eligible to be considered for grant assistance in respect of that course.

My Department understands from City of Galway VEC, the body charged with administering the scheme in this case, that the student in question has been awarded a grant, for both maintenance and the charge for student services, registration and examinations, in respect of her attendance on the course at TRBDI. My Department is satisfied that the student in question has been assessed correctly under the terms of the relevant student support scheme.