John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 450: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if financial assistance is available to a person (details supplied); the action they must take to secure a grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36163/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Under my Department's Higher Education Grant Scheme and VEC Scholarship Scheme, maintenance grants are available to eligible students pursuing approved undergraduate courses in Northern Ireland and also in E.U. Member States. In general, approved courses are those pursued in a third level institution, which is maintained or assisted by recurrent grants from public funds.

Students attending approved courses in Northern Ireland and also in E.U. Member States are subject generally to the same eligibility criteria for funding as students attending approved courses in the State. The main conditions of funding relate to age, residence, means, nationality and previous academic attainment.

Officials of my Department have been in contact with Sligo County Council and they confirmed that the candidate in question did not apply for a grant in respect of the academic year 2006/07.

Tax-relief on tuition fees are available in respect of approved courses at undergraduate and postgraduate level in Northern Ireland and in E.U. Member States.