Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)

The student maintenance grant schemes include for grant purposes those awarded official refugee status. The Department understands that the candidate did not satisfy the conditions to be awarded official refugee status by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. The issue to be clarified is the basis on which temporary leave to remain in the State was awarded.

The Deputy will appreciate that it is not open to me, my Department or the assessing authorities to depart from the terms and conditions of the maintenance grants schemes in individual cases. However, the Department is prepared to review the matter in the light of advice received from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

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