Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 577: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the assistance available to persons (detail supplied) in County Mayo; if assistance will be given to them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35598/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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A key area covered in the report of the Action Group on Access to Third Level Education — which was asked to advise on the development of a co-ordinated framework to promote access by disadvantaged students — is the Special Rates of Maintenance Grant (also known as the Top-Up Grant). Eligibility is determined by reference to an income threshold and receipt of a long-term social welfare payment as set out below:

1. An applicant must qualify for the ordinary maintenance grant.

2. Total reckonable income in the relevant tax year must not exceed the lower income limits as set out in the relevant Maintenance Grant Schemes and, where applicable, net of Child Dependant Increase payments

3. As at the prescribed date — i.e. 31st December each year — the source of income must include one of the eligible long-term Social Welfare payments.

For the 2006/2007 academic year the non-adjacent, ordinary grant plus the top-up has been increased to €5,970 and the adjacent rate to €2,390 i.e. a Top-Up of €2,860 and €1,145 respectively.

Officials of my Department contacted the Higher Education Grants Section of both County Mayo VEC and Mayo County Council concerning the candidates referred to by the Deputy. It is understood from both awarding authorities that the candidates were not eligible for the Top-Up grant as the reckonable income exceeded the prescribed limit for the academic year 2006/2007 which is €16,748. I regret that it is not possible to allow grant aid where reckonable income exceeds the prescribed limits irrespective of the particular circumstances. Financial Assistance is also available from my Department through the Student Assistance Fund which is ESF-aided and administered by the National Office for Equity of Access to Third Level Education (National Office).

This Fund assists students who, having commenced a third-level course, experience financial hardship and, therefore, may be unable to continue their third-level studies. Applications for funding should be made by the individual student to the Access Officer in their institution. The Fund is administered on a confidential, discretionary basis.

The Millennium Partnership Fund is a community-based fund that supports retention and participation among under-represented groups of students in further or higher education. Partnership Companies and Community Groups manage the Fund locally. The following Area Partnership Company is in the Deputy's constituency area:

Meitheal Mhaigheo, Lower Main Street,

Foxford,

Co. Mayo.

(094)-9256745

The Fund is managed on behalf of my Department by Pobal in consultation with the National Office for Equity of Access to Third Level Education. Applications for Millennium funding are made annually by the Partnership Companies and Community Groups through Pobal, the state company established to promote social inclusion, reconciliation and equality in Ireland.