Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 203: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position regarding an application for the single farm payment in the name of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15523/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The position is that an application for the Transfer of Entitlements under the 2006 Single Payment Scheme to the person named was submitted on the 15th May 2006.

During processing of the application it was necessary for an official of my Department to write to the person named on the 4th October 2006 and on the 8th November 2006 to request specific documentation relating to the application. The requested documentation was received on the 11th April 2007 and the application is now fully processed.

The person named also made an application under the Consolidation measure of the Single Payment Scheme. This application has been processed and payment will issue shortly.

Ned O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 204: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will investigate the application for a maintenance grant in respect of an alarm maintenance course by a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [15388/07]

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 Education Committees on behalf of my Department.

An application for grant assistance, by the candidate referred to by the Deputy, will be assessed with reference to the terms of my Department's Maintenance Grant Scheme for Students Attending Post Leaving Certificate Courses 2006. I wish to draw your attention to Clause 3.2 of the PLC Scheme, it states the following:

"Candidates are ineligible if they already hold a FETAC Level 5 qualification (formerly known as a FETAC (NCVA) Level 2 qualification), a 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 FETAC Level 5 (formerly known as a FETAC (NCVA) Level 2) and are now pursuing a course that offers progression may be deemed eligible for grant aid."

Under this provision, students holding a qualification no higher than a FETAC Level 5 may be considered for grant assistance in respect of an approved PLC course which offers progression.

My Department understands that the candidate referred to by the Deputy has a FÁS qualification, equivalent to FETAC level 6, and is currently pursuing a course at FETAC level 5 at St. Johns College. I regret that under the above provisions of the PLC Scheme the candidate in question is ineligible to receive any funding for the current course as it does not offer progression from the qualification already held.