David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 174: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her views on issuing guidelines to vocational education committees and county council higher education grants awarding bodies requesting that they be more flexible in the closing dates regarding applications for third level grants; if she will allow such grants to be backdated in the case of late applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31367/06]

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, nationality and previous academic attainment. The closing date for receipt of grant applications for the current academic year was 31 August 2006. However the awarding bodies, at their own absolute discretion, may accept applications after this date.