Michael D. Higgins
Ceist:244 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the application by a person (details supplied) for a higher education grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19283/02]
Vol. 555 No. 5
244 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the application by a person (details supplied) for a higher education grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19283/02]
The student to whom the Deputy refers is attending a higher diploma in arts administration course at the NUI Galway and has been refused grant assistance by Galway County Council under the terms of the 2002 higher education grant scheme on the basis that he already holds a higher diploma in arts from Queens University, Belfast, and that the former qualification does not represent progression from the level at which the qualification from Queens University was attained. The student in question has appealed this decision to my Department's student support unit and a response is being issued directly to him.