Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 281: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will examine the grounds on which a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary was refused a higher education grant. [36916/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Maintenance Grant Scheme for Students attending Post Leaving Certificate courses is administered by the Vocational Education Committees on behalf of my Department.

Clause 6.3.6 of my Department's Maintenance Grant Scheme for students attending Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) courses provides as follows; "Grants may not be paid in respect of a second period of attendance at the same level for a course approved for the purposes of this scheme, irrespective of whether or not a grant was paid previously. The Vocational Education Committee will have discretion to waive this provision in exceptional circumstances such as serious certified illness." There is no provision under the PLC Scheme for candidates to receive funding where a candidate previously pursues a PLC course but fails to complete the course.

Officials in my Department understand that the student referred to by the Deputy attended a FETAC Level 5 course in 2005 but left the course after a couple of weeks. They also understand that the same student is going to pursue another FETAC Level 5 PLC course. Accordingly, with reference to the above provisions of the P.L.C Scheme, the student referred to by the Deputy is ineligible for grant assistance in respect of another course at FETAC Level 5.