Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 1255: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason a person (details supplied) in County Clare is ineligible to receive funding from her Department to complete a course over a period of two years under the terms of the PLC maintenance grant scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28583/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Maintenance Grant Scheme for Students attending Post Leaving Certificate courses is administered by the Vocational Educational Committees on behalf of my Department.

Under the terms of my Department's Maintenance Grants Scheme for Students Attending Post Leaving Certificate Courses, grant assistance may be awarded to eligible students attending full-time PLC courses approved for the purposes of the Scheme.

All four Student Maintenance Grant Schemes, including the PLC Scheme, prescribe that students may only be funded in respect of the "normal duration" of an approved course. There is no provision under the Scheme to allow students to receive grant assistance beyond the normal duration of a PLC course.

The normal duration of approved PLC courses must be applied consistently in respect of all students.

Officials in my Department understand from Clare VEC, the awarding body in this case that the candidate referred to by Deputy wishes to complete a one-year course over a two year period. Unfortunately, this extends the normal duration of the course and accordingly will preclude the student from receiving a grant for that second year.