Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 1557: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her views on reviewing the decision not to award an educational grant to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 13; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1671/07]

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 Educational Committees on behalf of my Department.

Under the Scheme eligible students may continue to receive grant assistance for the normal duration of an approved course subject to the usual terms and conditions of funding. In this regard clause 6.3 provides, inter alia, that:

A grant is tenable for the normal duration of the approved PLC Course and is renewable annually subject to satisfactory participation, attendance and the approval of the Vocational Education Committee.

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 Educational Committee will have discretion to waive this provision in exceptional circumstances such as serious certified illness.

I understand from Officials in my Department that the candidate referred to by the Deputy has previously pursued a PLC course at FETAC level 6 (formally known as FETAC level 3) and is currently pursuing a course at the same level. I regret that under the above provisions of the PLC Scheme the candidate in question is ineligible to receive any further funding at PLC level.