Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 256: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if the circumstances of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 will be reviewed. [21334/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department funds three means-tested maintenance grant schemes for third level education students in respect of attendance on approved courses in approved third level institutions and one maintenance grant scheme in respect of students attending approved post-leaving certificate — PLC — courses in approved PLC centres: the higher education grants scheme; the vocational education committees' scholarship scheme; the third level maintenance grants scheme for trainees; and the maintenance grant scheme for students attending post-leaving certificate courses.

Under the terms of the maintenance grants scheme for post-leaving certificate courses 2005, grants are available to eligible candidates who are entering approved PLC courses for the first time in the 2005-06 academic year. Candidates are ineligible if they already hold a FETAC level five qualification, formerly known as a FETAC, NCVA, level two qualification; or FETAC level six qualification, formerly known as a FETAC, NCVA, level three qualification or a third level qualification at level six or higher. However, notwithstanding this condition, candidates who already hold a FETAC level five qualification, formerly known as a FETAC, NCVA, level two qualification, and are now pursuing a course that offers progression may be deemed eligible for grant aid.

The candidate, to whom the Deputy refers, already holds a higher national diploma qualification. As outlined above, students who already hold a third level qualification are ineligible for grant assistance under this scheme. I regret the news is not better with regard to this student, but the Deputy will appreciate that the terms of the schemes are of general application and it is not open to me to make exceptions in individual cases instead of the final line which currently reads as follows "It is not open to me or my Department to depart from the terms of the Scheme in individual cases."