Vol. 529 No. 3
145 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will consider assisting third level students who have grants from his Department and who are studying in the UK and Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1966/01]
With effect from 1996, the student support schemes were extended to provide maintenance grants to undergraduate students pursuing approved third level courses in other EU member states. Prior to this, grants were only payable to students who were pursuing approved courses in the Republic and Northern Ireland. In this context it was agreed that students pursuing approved courses in other EU member states, including in Northern Ireland, would be paid the value of the grant in the currency of the country in which they were studying and that the value of the maintenance grant to be paid in all circumstances would be the Irish value converted to the currency of the country in which the student is pursuing his or her course.
In December 1999, in response to a number of representations, local authorities and vocational education committees were advised that grant holders should be given the option of having their grant paid either in Irish punts or in the currency of the country in which they are studying. This concession allows students studying in Northern Ireland or the UK to receive their grants in Irish punts rather than sterling, if they so wish.
My Department is satisfied that the current arrangements are equitable and efficient. While the exchange rate difficulties with sterling are appreciated, my Department is not in a position to supplement grant aid for students pursuing courses in the United Kingdom. Moreover, such an approach could well give rise to anomalies and to claims of inequitable treatment between students studying in different countries.
146 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Education and Science his proposals to review the eligibility conditions in relation to post-leaving certificate maintenance grants; if he will review this rule and examine whether certain applications for post-leaving certificate grants for individuals who may have previously completed a different course will be approved. [2804/01]
Under the terms of the maintenance grants scheme for students attending post leaving certificate (PLC) courses 2000, grants are available to eligible candidates who are entering approved PLC courses for the first time in the 2000-2001 school year. Candidates are ineligible if they already hold a National Council For Vocational Awards (NCVA) level 2 or level 3 qualification or a third level qualification at national certificate, national diploma, degree, postgraduate or equivalent level. However, notwithstanding this condition, candidates who already hold an NCVA level 2 qualification and are now pursuing a course that offers progression may be deemed eligible for grant aid.
Accordingly, grants are not payable in respect of a second period of attendance at the same level for a course approved for the purposes of this scheme, irrespective of whether or not a grant was paid previously.
There are no plans at present to change the provisions of the scheme in this regard.
