Written answers

Thursday, 19 October 2006

Department of Education and Science

Higher Education Grants

5:00 pm

Photo of Róisín ShortallRóisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 328: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the supports available, financial or otherwise, from her Department to help a person wishing to return to full time education shortly after having become unemployed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33818/06]

Photo of Mary HanafinMary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department funds four maintenance grant schemes for third level and further education students which are administered by the Local Authorities and the Vocational Education Committees. Under the Free Fees Initiative, my Department meets the tuition fees of eligible students attending full-time undergraduate courses, which must generally be of at least two years duration.

Generally speaking, students who are entering approved courses at undergraduate or postgraduate level for the first time are eligible for maintenance grants where they satisfy the relevant conditions as to age, residence, means and nationality.

The Higher Education Grant Schemes operate under the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts, 1968 to 1992. The Acts make special provision for the assessment of means in the case of mature students. Under the terms of the Higher Education Grants Scheme, mature students are categorised as either independent mature students or mature students dependent on parents. An independent mature student is defined to mean a mature student who was not ordinarily resident at home with his or her parents from the October preceding their entry to an approved course. Independent mature students are deemed to be self-supporting and are assessed without reference to either their parents' income or address. The statutory definition of a mature student is a person of not less than 23 years of age who has reached that age on the 1st day of January in the year of entry to an approved course.

The other schemes of student support for third level students have similar provisions. Apart from the funding provided through the student maintenance grant schemes, my Department also provides funding to the approved third level institutions to operate a Student Assistance Fund to assist students in a compassionate and sensitive manner who may otherwise have to leave college due to financial hardship. Information on the fund is available from the Student Access Officers at the approved third level colleges.

I would also draw attention to the Millennium Partnership Fund whose objective is to support students from disadvantaged areas with regard to retention and participation in further or higher education courses. Partnership Companies and Community Groups manage the fund at a local level.

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