Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 751: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway will not receive a higher education grant; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the person is registered blind and due to this needs additional time to complete their masters; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20429/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The decision on eligibility for third level grants is a matter for the relevant assessing authority — i.e. the 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 required.

In respect of the case referred to by the Deputy Clause 7.2 of both the Higher Education Grant Scheme and the Vocational Education Committees' Scholarship Scheme states the following: -"A grant is tenable for the normal duration of the approved course and is renewable annually subject to satisfactory attainment and the approval of the Local Authority [VEC], subject to the terms of Clause 7.6. Grants may not be paid in respect of a repeat year of study on the same course. A Local Authority [VEC] shall have discretion to waive this provision in exceptional circumstances, such as certified serious illness."

I would also like to refer the Deputy to Clause 7.7 of the same schemes which includes the following:-"Grant aid for postgraduate students shall be limited to a maximum of four years."