Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 848: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if assistance and advice will be given to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 3 to attend a third level college. [14494/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department funds four maintenance grant schemes for third level and further education students which are administered by the Local Authorities and the Vocational Education Committees. Under the Free Fees Initiative, my Department meets the tuition fees of eligible students attending full-time undergraduate courses, which must generally be of at least two years duration.

Generally speaking, students who are entering approved courses at undergraduate or postgraduate level for the first time are eligible for maintenance grants where they satisfy the relevant conditions as to age, residence, means and nationality. The decision on eligibility for third level grants is a matter for the relevant local authority or VEC. Details of the 2006 maintenance grant schemes are currently available on the Department's webs at www.education.ie. The 2007 schemes, for the 2007/08 academic year, will be placed on the website in the near future.