Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 828: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the special rate of maintenance grant available to applicants for vocational education committees' scholarship scheme grants; the qualifying criteria therefore; the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9 was not awarded a full rate of VEC grant; the reason their grant is reduced; and if she will provide a detailed copy of the assessment of this case. [14383/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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To qualify for the special rate of maintenance grant in the academic year 2006/07, all candidates must satisfy the following conditions:

1. Qualify for the ordinary maintenance grant in respect of the academic year 2006/07;

2. Total reckonable income limit in the tax year to 31 December 2005 must not exceed €16,748 (net of standard exclusions, as set out in the 2006 Maintenance Grants Schemes and net of Child Dependant increase (CDI) payments, where applicable);

3. As at 31 December 2005, the reckonable income of parent(s)/guardian(s), the candidate himself/herself, or the income of the spouse/partner, as the case may be, must include one of the eligible social welfare payments prescribed under the Scheme.

My Department contacted the Vocation Education Committee (VEC) responsible for the award of a grant for the student referred to by the Deputy and was advised the student was awarded a full rate VEC grant. My Department was also advised that the income exceeded the limit specified for the Special Rate of Maintenance Grant and, therefore, did not qualify for a Special Rate payment.

In accordance with the Data Protection Acts it is not possible for my Department to provide to the Deputy any documentation in respect of the candidates application or assessment. This information, however, would be made available to the candidate by the VEC, on the student's written request.