Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 1270: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if local authority maintenance grants apply to students pursuing the course of higher diploma in education; the criteria for qualification for such grants; if it is the case that these criteria differ between local authorities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28701/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Under the terms of the Third Level Maintenance Grant Schemes (which are administered on behalf 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. These criteria apply to all the Maintenance Grant Schemes.

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 year's duration pursued in an approved institution. 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 postgraduate qualification.

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.