Michael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 140: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the education grants which are available to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26076/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department funds four maintenance grant schemes for third level and further education students. These are the higher education grants, HEG scheme, the vocational education committees' VEC scholarships scheme, the third level maintenance grants scheme for trainees and the maintenance grants scheme for students attending post-leaving certificate courses. The HEG scheme is administered by the local authorities under the aegis of my Department. The other three schemes are administered by the vocational education committees.

Generally speaking, students who are entering approved courses for the first time are eligible for grants where they satisfy the relevant conditions as to age, residence, means, nationality and previous academic attainment. An approved third level course for the purpose of the HEG and the VEC scholarship schemes means a full-time undergraduate course of not less than two years' duration and a full-time postgraduate course of not less than one year' duration pursued in an approved institution. The schemes outline their respective courses which are approved for grant purposes.

The decision on eligibility for third level grants is a matter for the relevant local authority or VEC. These bodies do not refer individual applications to my Department except, in exceptional cases, where, for example, advice or instruction regarding a particular clause in the relevant scheme is desired. It appears that no such advice or instruction has to date been sought in the case of the student referred to by the Deputy.

If an individual applicant considers that he or she has been unjustly refused a maintenance grant, or that the rate of grant awarded is not the correct one, he or she may appeal to the relevant local authority or VEC. Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down in writing by the relevant local authority or VEC and remains of the view that the body has not interpreted the schemes correctly in his or her case, a letter outlining the position may be sent to my Department. Alternatively, as already indicated, the local authority or VEC may itself in exceptional circumstances seek clarification on issues from my Department.

Under the terms of the third level student support schemes — clause 7.6 of the higher education grants scheme, maintenance grants are not payable to candidates who already hold an undergraduate degree and are pursuing a second undergraduate degree. Similarly, tuition fees are not papable in respect of a second period of college attendance at the same level.

I understand that the student referred to by the Deputy already holds a degree. She is therefore ineligible for the higher education grant and is also unable to benefit under the free fees initiative in respect of her attendance at Mary Immaculate College. As the rules governing the schemes are of general application, exceptions cannot be made in individual instances. Tax relief, is however, available in respect of undergraduate fees paid in publicly funded colleges here and in other EU member states as well as in private colleges in the State. This relief applies at the standard rate of tax and is available to full-time students and part-time postgraduate students. Further details and conditions in relation to this tax relief are available from local tax offices.