Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 116: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason the third instalment of the higher education grant was not awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick in view of the fact that students in similar circumstances in other counties have been awarded such a grant. [13944/04]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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I understand that the candidate in question completed the Bachelor of Science course in health, fitness and leisure studies in the 2003-04 academic year. I understand that this degree programme consists of two study blocks of 15 weeks each, separated by a six month work placement in industry.

Under the terms of the third level student support schemes, grant-holders may be paid three equal instalments of the maintenance grant over the duration of the normal academic year. As the course in question ended no later than 31 March 2004, the grant-holders are only entitled to two instalments of the maintenance grant under the VEC scholarship scheme. This position on the funding of a number of similar courses at Tralee Institute of Technology was confirmed, in writing, to the registrar at the institute in a letter from the Department dated 7 June 2001.