Finian McGrath
Ceist:249 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a student grant in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 3. [19860/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 24 April 2012
Ceisteanna (158, 159, 160, 161)
Finian McGrath
Ceist:281 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a grant in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 3. [20516/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 249 and 281 together.
The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter for the relevant grant awarding authority. The Deputy will appreciate that in the absence of all of the relevant details that would be contained in an individual's application form and supporting documentation, it would not be possible for me to say whether or not a student should qualify for a grant.
Where a grant application is refused, the reason for the refusal is given by the grant awarding authority. An applicant may appeal the decision to the relevant awarding authority. Where the appeals officer decides to reject the appeal, the applicant may appeal this decision to my Department or the independent appeals board, as appropriate.
No appeal has been received in my Department to date.
Michael Lowry
Ceist:250 Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will confirm if an institution (details supplied) is an eligible institution for the purposes of the higher education grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19865/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder my Department's student grant scheme, eligible candidates may receive funding provided they are attending an approved course at an approved institution as defined in the scheme. I understand that the college referred to by the Deputy is a private college and is not listed as an approved institution for student grant purposes. The Deputy will appreciate that, in the current economic climate, I am not in a position to consider any such extension of the list of approved institutions. However, the tuition fees payable in this case may be eligible for tax relief. Details in relation to tax relief on tuition fees are available from the Revenue Commissioners.
Kieran O'Donnell
Ceist:251 Deputy Kieran O’Donnell asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a person who holds a masters degree from a university outside the State and which did not attract grant aid from either Ireland or the UK will qualify for a maintenance grant for a professional diploma in education at University College Cork, due to commence in September 2012; his plans to review the third level grants system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19897/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraTo satisfy the terms and conditions of the student grant scheme in relation to progression, a student must be moving from year to year within a course having successfully completed the previous year or be transferring from one course to another where the award for the subsequent course is of a higher level than the previous course. The objective of this policy is to help as many students as possible to obtain one qualification at each level of study. Given the level of demand on the student grant budget from first time students and students that are progressing with their studies to a higher level, there are no plans at present to change the arrangements in place.
In the situation referred to by the Deputy, a student who already holds a masters qualification and intends to pursue the professional diploma in education, which is at a lower level, is not considered to be in progression and cannot be considered for funding, regardless of whether grant aid was made available to pursue the previous qualification. However, tax relief at the standard rate of tax may be claimed in respect of tuition fees paid for approved courses at approved colleges of higher education including approved undergraduate and postgraduate courses in EU Member States and in non-EU countries.