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Higher Education Grants.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 November 2009

Tuesday, 24 November 2009

Ceisteanna (519, 520, 521, 522)

Arthur Morgan

Ceist:

554 Deputy Arthur Morgan asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of students in receipt of student grants from vocational education committees on a county basis; the number of students in receipt of student grants from local authorities on a county basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42741/09]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Arthur Morgan

Ceist:

555 Deputy Arthur Morgan asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of students who have received their student grants from vocational education committees on a county basis; the number of students who have received student grants from local authorities on a county basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42742/09]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 554 and 555 together.

The information requested by the Deputy is as follows and has been supplied to the Department by the Local Authorities and the Vocational Education Committees. Students and parents should return all necessary supporting documentation as early as possible to assist the awarding bodies to make prompt decisions on entitlement.

Number of Students Paid as at 18 November 2009

Name of Local Authority

Carlow County Council

390

Cavan County Council

367

Clare County Council

858

Cork City Council

877

Cork County Council

1,500

Donegal County Council

660

Dublin City Council

1,927

Dún Laoghaire County Council

311

Dublin South County Council

650

Fingal County Council

500

Galway County Council

1,980

Kerry County Council

1,122

Kildare County Council

635

Kilkenny County Council

716

Laois County Council

562

Leitrim County Council

319

Limerick County Council

300

Limerick City Council

306

Longford County Council

216

Louth County Council

278

Mayo County Council

899

Meath County Council

406

Monaghan County Council

445

Offaly County Council

350

Roscommon County Council

584

Sligo County Council

490

Tipperary North County Council

313

Tipperary South County Council

464

Waterford City Council

238

Waterford County Council

318

Westmeath County Council

558

Wexford County Council

417

Wicklow County Council

513

Name of Vocational Educational Committee

Carlow

560

Cavan VEC

858

Clare

653

City Cork

653

Co. Cork VEC

342

Donegal

1256

Dublin City VEC

851

Dublin County

266

Dún Laoghaire

355

Galway City

640

Galway County

930

Kerry VEC

1,468

Kildare VEC

352

Kilkenny VEC

540

Laois

467

Leitrim VEC

533

Limerick City

580

Limerick VEC

361

Longford

429

Louth

1,081

Mayo

662

Meath

538

Monaghan

870

Offaly

275

Roscommon VEC

527

Sligo VEC

891

Tipperary NR

631

Tipperary SR

558

Waterford City

505

Waterford County

452

Westmeath VEC

747

Wexford VEC

860

Wicklow VEC

547

Arthur Morgan

Ceist:

556 Deputy Arthur Morgan asked the Minister for Education and Science the timeframe for the allocation of grants in respect of months when each payment should be received by a student; the provision being made by third level institutions for students whose grant payments are delayed with respect to registration, access to student services and facilities and exams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42743/09]

Amharc ar fhreagra

The process of assessing eligibility for third level grants and the organisation, management and payment of student grants are matters for the relevant local authority or VEC. These bodies seek to ensure students get decisions on their grant applications and are paid as soon as possible.

The terms of the Higher Education Grants Scheme and the Vocational Education Committees' Scholarship Scheme for the 2009/10 academic year provide for the payment by the Local Authorities/VECs of each maintenance grant in three equal instalments as early as possible in each term with the individual payable orders being addressed to the grant holder c/c the Bursar's Office of the College.

Students and parents should return all necessary supporting documentation as early as possible to assist the awarding bodies to make prompt decisions on entitlement.

The Higher Education Authority on my behalf have requested institutions to be flexible in respect of the payment of the student services charge for those still awaiting a decision on their grant application.

Andrew Doyle

Ceist:

557 Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Education and Science if consideration will be made in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow in the allocation of their maintenance top up grant as part of the higher education grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42894/09]

Amharc ar fhreagra

The decision on eligibility for student grants is a matter for the relevant assessing authority — i.e. the 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 required.

If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a maintenance grant, or that the rate of grant awarded is not the correct one, she/he may appeal, in the first instance, to the relevant local authority or VEC.

Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down, in writing, by the assessing authority, and remains of the view that the body has not interpreted the schemes correctly in her/his case, an appeal form outlining the position may be submitted by the applicant to my Department.

No appeal has been received by my Department to date from the candidate referred to by the Deputy.

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