Dan Boyle
Ceist:173 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Education and Science if restrictions exist on mature students transferring from one further education course to another without affecting grant entitlements. [21134/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 8 July 2004
Ceisteanna (179)
Freagraí scríofa
Under the terms of the maintenance grants scheme for students attending post leaving certificate courses, PLCs, grants may not be paid 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. The vocational education committee will have discretion to waive this provision in exceptional circumstances such as certified serious illness.
Under the terms of my Departments' higher education grants scheme and the vocational education committees' scholarship scheme candidates who have previously pursued an undergraduate course approved for the purposes of any of the third-level grant schemes are not eligible to be considered for grant assistance until they have completed an equivalent period of study at undergraduate level. The awarding bodies, the local authorities and the vocational education committees have discretion to waive this provision in exceptional circumstances, such as certified serious illness.
However, under the terms of my Department's third-level maintenance grant for trainees, TLT, scheme, a candidate may in general only receive funding for the approved duration of one TLT course, subject to a maximum of four years in all. Funding may be extended where a grant-holder who having passed, failed or not completed the first year of a course, wishes to transfer to a different course. Such a grant-holder is eligible for a grant in respect of the normal duration of attendance on the new course.