Gay Mitchell (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 417: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 is not being awarded a full maintenance non-adjacent grant for the second year of a two year course; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34853/05]

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 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 5 qualification, formerly known as a FETAC (NCVA) level 2 qualification, or FETAC level 6 qualification, formerly known as a FETAC (NCVA) level 3 qualification, or a third level qualification at level 6 or higher. However, notwithstanding this condition, candidates who already hold a FETAC level 5 qualification, formerly known as a FETAC (NCVA) level 2 qualification, and are now pursuing a course that offers progression may be deemed eligible for grant aid.

Under the PLC scheme eligible students may continue to receive grant assistance for the normal duration of an approved course subject to the usual terms and conditions of funding. In this regard clause 6.3. provides, inter alia, that: "A grant is tenable for the normal duration of the approved PLC course and is renewable annually subject to the satisfactory participation, attendance and the approval of the Vocational Education Committee." In accordance with clause 6.3.6 of the PLC scheme: "Grants may not be paid in respect of a second period of attendance at the same level for a course approved for the purposes of this scheme, irrespective of whether or not a grant was paid previously. The Vocational Education Committee will have discretion to waive this provision in exceptional circumstances such as serious certified illness."

Further clarification is being sought in relation to the duration of the course in question in order to establish if the candidate referred to by Deputy is eligible for funding for a second year.