Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 538: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason a person (details supplied) in County Clare did not qualify for a vocational educational committee grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38932/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Maintenance Grant Scheme for Students attending Post Leaving Certificate courses is administered by the Vocational Education Committees on behalf of my Department.

Under the terms of the Maintenance Grants Scheme for Post Leaving Certificate Courses 2006, grants are available to eligible candidates who are entering approved PLC courses for the first time in the 2006/2007 academic year.

Candidates are ineligible if they already hold a FETAC Level 5 qualification (formerly known as a FETAC (NCVA) Level 2 qualification) or FETAC Level 6 qualification (formerly known as a FETAC (NCVA) Level 3 qualification) or a third level qualification at Level 6 or higher. However, notwithstanding this condition candidates who already hold a qualification no higher than a FETAC Level 5 (formerly known as a FETAC (NCVA) Level 2 qualification) and are now pursuing a course that offers progression may be deemed eligible for grant aid.

My Department understands that the candidate, to whom the Deputy refers, already holds two qualifications from Fáilte Ireland, which are at least equivalent to a FETAC Level 5 and a FETAC Level 6 respectively. As outlined above, the candidate is ineligible for grant assistance in respect of his PLC course which is at FETAC Level 5.

I regret the news is not better in relation to this student, but you will appreciate that the terms of the schemes are of general application and it is not open to me or my Department to depart from the terms of the scheme and make exceptions in individual cases.