Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 208: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the situation with regard to the eligibility of students for third level grants at an institute of technology (details supplied); if students at this college are eligible for third level grants without the college having to go through the HETAC; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15847/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The higher education grants scheme operates under the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts 1968 to 1992. An "approved institution" is defined to mean a university, college or other institution of higher education in so far as it provides a course or courses of not less than two years' duration at undergraduate level and not less than one year's duration at postgraduate level, being a course or courses of which the Minister for Education and Science approves for the time being for the purposes of the Acts.

The annual higher education grants scheme sets out a list of approved institutions for the purposes of the scheme. The approved institutions mainly comprise the publicly funded third level institutions. However, several religious and other institutions have been admitted to the scheme over the years.

Milltown Institute of Theology and Philosophy, Dublin, is included in the list of approved colleges under my Department's 2004 higher education grants scheme in respect of the following courses: national certificate in philosophical studies, a two-year, full-time course; Bachelor of Arts in philosophy; BA in theology and philosophy; BA in theology and pastoral care, a four-year, full-time course; BA in theology and anthropology, from 2003-04, a four-year, full-time course; graduate diploma in spirituality, a one-year postgraduate course; graduate diploma in applied spirituality, a one-year postgraduate course; MA in spirituality, a two-year postgraduate course; MA in philosophy by research and thesis; MA in theology by research and thesis; MA in biblical studies; MA in faith and culture studies, from 2003-04, a one-year full-time course; PhD in philosophy; and PhD in theology.

Candidates intending to pursue any of the approved courses at the institute are advised to contact their local authority with a view to being assessed for grant assistance.

My Department, to date, has received no representations from Milltown Institute of Theology, Dublin, regarding the inclusion of additional courses under the 2005 higher education grant scheme.