Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 93: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the mechanism available to persons to obtain a refund of college fees involved in their child's education (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23185/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The three Third Level Student Support Schemes, administered by the Local Authorities and the Vocational Education Committees on behalf of my Department, offer financial assistance to eligible students attending approved third level courses. Students entering approved courses for the first time are, generally speaking, eligible for grants where they satisfy the relevant conditions as to age, residence, means and nationality. Under the terms of the Schemes grants may only be awarded where the reckonable income is below the prescribed income limits.

Under the means test provisions, the reckonable income for candidates other than Independent Mature Student is gross income from all sources of the candidate and his/her parents or guardians where applicable. Certain specified Social Welfare and Health Board payments are exempt in the calculation. The reckonable income limit in respect of this academic year 2005/06 for the full maintenance grant where the number of dependent children is less than 4, which is the position with the candidate mentioned by the Deputy, is €35,485. Candidates who do not qualify for a full maintenance grant could qualify for a part maintenance grant (75%) in respect of which the income limit is €37,695. The income limits to qualify for a 50% grant and a 25% grant are €39,915 and €42,130 respectively. The full Student Service Charge/Registration fee is also payable, where the reckonable income does not exceed €44,350. Staff in Kildare VEC have confirmed to my Department that this candidate's reckonable income exceeds the reckonable income limits for 2005/06 academic year.