Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 215: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the rules which govern eligibility for a higher education grant in respect of the law society professional practice course one; if the holding of a postgraduate qualification affects eligibility for a higher education grant in respect of this course; if all persons with postgraduate qualifications are ineligible for a higher education grant in respect of this course or only those with postgraduate qualifications in certain disciplines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38318/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Under the terms of the third level student support schemes, administered by the local authorities and vocational education committees under the aegis of my Department, 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 schemes also provide that grants may not be paid to candidates who already hold a postgraduate qualification and are pursuing a second postgraduate qualification. However, clause 7.7 of the higher education grant scheme and the VEC scholarship scheme, as amended in 2000, provides that candidates who already hold a postgraduate qualification and are pursuing a further postgraduate course at a higher level, which represents progression from the level at which the first qualification was attained, may be deemed eligible for grant aid.

Students who hold a postgraduate diploma, an LLB or an LLM and who hold no other postgraduate qualification are eligible to be considered for grant assistance under the progression clause, subject to the usual conditions.