Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 149: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will review the eligibility to the higher education grant scheme of prospective persons to the barrister-at-law degree at King's Inns. [11550/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Under the terms of my Department's higher education grants scheme, a student is not eligible for grant assistance in respect of a second period of study at the same level, irrespective of whether a grant was paid previously. The scheme also provides that grants may not be paid to candidates who already hold a post-graduate qualification and are pursuing a second post-graduate qualification.

However the terms of clause 7.7 of the higher education grants scheme and the VEC scholarship scheme were amended in 2000 to provide that candidates who already hold a post-graduate qualification and are pursuing a further post-graduate course at a higher level, and which represents progression from the level at which the first qualification was attained, may be deemed eligible for grant aid.

The barrister-at-law course at the Honourable Society of King's Inns is at post-graduate level. Admission to the course is restricted to law graduates and other candidates who have passed the society's diploma in legal studies examination. In the light of representations received I have asked my Department to review the status of this course for grant purposes.