Ned O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 596: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if the higher education grants scheme covers Irish students studying in Scotland (details supplied). [21108/06]

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 grant scheme in respect of Post Leaving Certificate courses:

(a) The Higher Education Grants Scheme

(b) The Vocational Education Committees' Scholarship Scheme

(c) The Third Level Maintenance Grants Scheme For Trainees

(d) Maintenance Grants Scheme for Students attending Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) Courses.

The statutory framework for the Higher Education Grants Schemes is set out in the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts, 1968 to 1992. The local authorities administer the schemes on behalf of my Department. The other two schemes are administered, on behalf of my Department, by the Vocational Education Committees.

In relation to support available for students studying abroad, my Department's student maintenance grant schemes provide maintenance grants to undergraduate students pursuing approved third level courses in other EU Member States. In general, an approved undergraduate course is defined as a full-time undergraduate course of not less than two years duration pursued in a university or third level institution, which is maintained or assisted by recurrent grants from public funds in another EU Member State, with the exception of the following:

(i) Courses in Colleges of Further and Higher Education (other than courses which are at Higher National Diploma level or higher.

(ii) Courses provided in a college which are offered in private commercial third level colleges in the State, and which are validated by that college;

(iii) Colleges in colleges akin to private commercial colleges in Ireland.

Under the terms of my Department's third level student maintenance grant schemes, where the applicant is not an independent mature student, the reckonable income to be determined for the purposes of the award of the maintenance grant is income from all sources of the candidate and his/her parents or guardians where applicable.

The means test arrangements of the Student Maintenance Grant Schemes have been in operation since 1983 and are applied nationally. In the case of both the employed and self-employed gross income is assessed with certain specified social welfare and health board payments excluded. The prescribed income limits may be increased by €4,295 where there are two children (or the candidate's parent) attending a full-time third level course, or €8,590 where there are three such children and so on, by increments of €4,295 for each additional child.

As all applications for financial support are means tested in accordance with the terms of the student maintenance grant schemes, a candidate shall not be eligible for a grant if the reckonable income for the purpose of the means testing is over the prescribed income limits irrespective of the individual circumstances. 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.

Ned O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 597: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding a review of a higher education grant for a person (details supplied) in County Cork by her Department where under exceptional medical circumstances they are seeking a waiver of some of the requirements or criteria of this scheme. [21109/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is in receipt of correspondence from the candidate referred to by the Deputy. The case is under consideration within my Department and a response will be furnished to the candidate as soon as possible.