Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 473: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare whose spouse is the holder of a work permit to work here is eligible to apply for a third level grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23559/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Under the terms of the Higher Education Grants scheme grant assistance is awarded to students who meet the prescribed conditions of funding including those which relate to nationality, residency, means and previous academic attainment. The Nationality requirement as set out in Clause 4.5 of the Vocational Education Committee Grant Scheme 2005 states that candidates must: hold E.U. Nationality; or have Official Refugee Status; or have been granted Humanitarian Leave to Remain in the State; or have permission to remain in the State by virtue of marriage to an Irish national residing in the State or be the child of such person, not having EU nationality; or have permission to remain in the State by virtue of marriage to a national of another EU Member State who is residing in the State and who is or has been employed, or self-employed, in the State, or be the child of such a person, not having EU nationality; or be nationals of a member country of the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland. As the candidate referred to by the Deputy does not satisfy the nationality requirement I regret that she is ineligible for grant assistance under the grant Scheme.

There are no plans at present to extend the nationality clause of the student support schemes. Any extension to the scope of the maintenance grants scheme, can be considered only in the light of available resources and in the context of competing demands within the education sector.

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 474: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will review the situation of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12; if this person is entitled to funding while undertaking studies to obtain a higher diploma in education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23560/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Under the terms of the Third Level Maintenance Grant Schemes (which are administered under the aegis of the Department, by the Local Authorities and the Vocational Education Committees) 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, and nationality and previous academic attainment. An approved course for the purpose of the Schemes means a full-time undergraduate course of not less than two years duration and a full time postgraduate course of not less than one years duration pursued in an approved institution.

The decision on eligibility for third level grants is a matter for the relevant local authority or VEC. These bodies do not refer individual applications to my Department except, in exceptional cases, where, for example, advice or instruction regarding a particular clause in the relevant scheme is desired. It appears that no such advice or instruction has, to date, been sought in the case of the student, referred to by the Deputy. The student referred to by the Deputy should request the grant application form from their local authority with a view to being assessed for grant assistance for the Higher Diploma Course.