Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 462: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if the higher education grant is available to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13852/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The decision on eligibility for third level grants is a matter for the relevant local authority or VEC. These bodies do not refer individual applications to my Department except, in exceptional cases, where, for example, advice or instruction regarding a particular clause in the relevant scheme is desired. It appears that no such advice or instruction has, to date, been sought in the case of the student referred to by the Deputy.

Officials in my Department have been in contact with Fingal County Council and County Dublin VEC the authorities who administer the Schemes for that area to date they have not received an application for the student referred to by the Deputy.

If an individual applicant considers that s/he has been unjustly refused a maintenance grant, or that the rate of grant awarded is not the correct one, s/he may appeal to the relevant local authority or VEC. Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down, in writing, by the relevant local authority or VEC, and remains of the view that the body has not interpreted the schemes correctly in his/her case, a letter outlining the position may be sent to my Department. Alternatively, as already indicated, the local authority or VEC may, itself, in exceptional circumstances, seek clarification on issues from my Department.

However, it is not open to me, or my Department, to depart from the terms of the maintenance grants schemes in individual cases.