Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 510: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her Department will arrange to have an appeal organised in respect of an application for a higher education grant by a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4279/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Under the terms of the higher education grants scheme which is administered by the local authorities on behalf of my Department, the position is that, generally speaking, students who are entering approved courses for the first time are eligible for grants where they satisfy the relevant conditions as to residence, means, nationality and previous academic attainment.

The candidate's reckonable income for the purposes of the means test is his-her gross income from all sources and the gross income of his-her parents or guardians, where applicable, with certain specified social welfare and health board payments being exempt. Grant assistance may not be awarded in any case where the reckonable income exceeds the prescribed income limits for the award of a grant.

It is understood from the awarding authority that the candidate referred to by the Deputy was not eligible for the maintenance grant as the reckonable income in this case exceeded the prescribed limit as set out in the higher education grant scheme. I regret that it is not possible to allow grant aid where reckonable income exceeds the prescribed limits irrespective of the particular circumstances.

I would like to take this opportunity to draw the Deputy's attention to the ESF-aided student assistance fund for third level institutions. The objective of this fund is to assist students in a sensitive and compassionate manner who might otherwise, because of financial reasons, suffer severe hardship or be unable to continue their third level studies. Application for funding should be made by the student to the access officer in their institution. The fund is administered on a confidential, discretionary basis.