Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 1234: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason the higher education grant has not been approved in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare under the 2005 PLC maintenance grant scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40307/05]

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. These are 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, a 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 qualification no higher than FETAC level 5, 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 scheme, 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. A record of achievement is generally issued in respect of individual modules of a course, whereas a full award — FETAC level 5 formally known as a FETAC (NCVA) level 2 qualification, a level 6 qualification, formally known as FETAC (NCVA) level 3 qualification — is issued were all modules of a particular course have been successfully completed.

My Department understands that the candidate referred to by the Deputy has previously pursued an approved PLC course at FETAC level 5. However, she did not attain the terminal qualification on completing the course. In the circumstances she may not be deemed as progressing under the terms of the of the PLC scheme.