Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 539: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason having a degree, then an MA followed by a H.Dip is not considered for the purposes of a higher education grant; the further reason this is not considered to be progression when a H.Dip is a requirement to qualify as a teacher; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9251/06]

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 on behalf of the Department of Education and Science, 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. Notwithstanding this condition, candidates who already hold a postgraduate qualification and are progressing to a further postgraduate course which represents progression from the level at which the previous postgraduate qualification(s) was attained, may be deemed eligible for grant aid.

For the purposes of the maintenance grant schemes a masters qualification is deemed to represent progression from the higher diploma in education. While the higher diploma is accepted as progression from the honours bachelor degree, an undergraduate qualification, it is not accepted as progression from any post-graduate qualification.