Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 272: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare qualifies for a top-up higher education grant for 2005; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6275/06]

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. The candidate to whom the Deputy refers is attending a post-leaving certificate course.

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 five qualification, formerly known as a FETAC — NCVA — level two qualification, a FETAC level six qualification, formerly known as a FETAC — NCVA — level three qualification, or a third level qualification at level six or higher. However, notwithstanding this condition candidates who already hold a qualification no higher than FETAC level five and are now pursuing a course that offers progression may be deemed eligible for grant aid.

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 and is therefore ineligible for funding under the relevant maintenance grant scheme.