Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 844: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will investigate the application by a person (details supplied) in County Kildare for a higher education grant in view of the exceptional circumstances in the case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21101/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The decision on eligibility for third level and further education grants is a matter for the relevant Local Authority or VEC.

The awarding 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.

If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a maintenance grant, or that the rate of grant awarded is not the correct one, she/he may appeal, in the first instance, to the relevant local authority or VEC.

Where an individual applicant has an appeal turned down by the relevant local authority/VEC and remains of the view that the body has not interpreted the schemes correctly in his/her case an appeals form outlining the position may be submitted directly by the applicant to my Department.