Vol. 531 No. 3
436 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 268 of 13 February 2001 regarding a person (details supplied) in County Galway, some leeway could be given to this student in view of the fact that she is her sister's carer since the death of their parents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5581/01]
My Department understands from Galway County Council, the body entrusted with the administration of the higher education grants scheme in this case, that the normal residence of the student in question, who is not a mature student, is within 15 miles of the college which she is attending, and, accordingly, the student has been, correctly, awarded a maintenance grant at the adjacent rate.
The schemes of student support are of general application and, accordingly, it is not open to me to make exceptions in individual cases.
Apart from the maintenance grants schemes and the free fees initiative, under which my Department meets the cost of tuition fees for eligible undergraduate students in approved institutions, financial support is also available to students through the student assistance-access fund. The objectives of the fund are to assist students, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise, due to their financial circumstances, be unable to continue their third level studies. The fund is administered by the third level institutions and provides direct financial support to disadvantaged students to assist them to remain on in college to complete their studies. The Deputy may wish to advise the student in question to contact the college's access officer in this regard.
