Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 September 2004
483 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason a higher education grant is being refused to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22095/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe decision on eligibility for maintenance grants is a matter for the relevant local authority or VEC. These bodies do not refer individual applications to my Department except, in exceptional cases, where, for example, advice or instruction regarding a particular clause in the relevant scheme is desired.
Under the means test provisions of the maintenance grants schemes, the reckonable income of a candidate, other than an independent mature candidate, is his or her gross income from all sources, and the gross income of his/her parents or guardians where applicable, with certain specified social welfare and health board payments being exempt.
Under the terms of the residency clause of the schemes, the candidate's parents or guardians, or, in the case of an independent mature candidate, the candidate herself/himself, must have been ordinarily resident in the administrative area of the vocational education committee, from 1 October previous to entry to the course in question. The VEC has discretion to waive this requirement in exceptional circumstances.
The candidate, referred to by the Deputy, is under 23 years of age and must, therefore, be assessed by reference to parent(s) income and residency status. It is not open to me, or to my Department, to depart from the terms of the schemes in individual cases.
484 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science the help available to a person to enable him to continue third level studies in Galway and return home to Mayo each day as advised by his doctor. [22097/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe decision on eligibility for maintenance grants is a matter for the relevant local authority or VEC. These bodies do not refer individual applications to my Department except, in exceptional cases, where, for example, advice or instruction regarding a particular clause in the relevant scheme is desired.
With regard to eligibility for financial assistance under the student support schemes, the position is that generally speaking, students who are entering approved courses for the first time are eligible for grants where they satisfy the relevant conditions as to age, residence, means, and nationality. An approved course for the purpose of the PLC scheme means a full-time course of at least one year duration, attended in an approved centre.
My Department contacted County Mayo VEC and it confirmed that it is in the process of assessing the grant application for the candidate, referred to by the Deputy. Grant aid is payable at either adjacent or non-adjacent rates. The adjacent rate of the maintenance grant shall be payable in the case of a grant holder whose normal residence is 15 miles or less from the college which she or he is attending. The non-adjacent rate shall be payable in the case of a grant holder whose normal residence is more than 15 miles from the college. If the candidate to whom the Deputy refers is eligible for grant aid he should be entitled to the non-adjacent rate of the grant.
