Written answers

Tuesday, 16 October 2007

Department of Education and Science

Higher Education Grants

10:00 pm

Photo of Chris AndrewsChris Andrews (Dublin South East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 440: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15 is eligible for a higher education grant. [23499/07]

Photo of Mary HanafinMary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

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. The Higher Education Grant Scheme operates under the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts, 1968 to 1992. Generally speaking, students who are entering approved courses for the first time are eligible for maintenance grants where they satisfy the relevant conditions as to age, residence, means, nationality and previous academic attainment.

Under the nationality requirement, students must hold E.U. Nationality, or have Official Refugee Status or have been granted Humanitarian Leave to Remain in the State (prior to the Immigration Act 1999); or be a person in respect of whom the Minister for Justice, Equality and law Reform has granted permission to remain following a determination not to make a deportation order under section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999; or have permission to remain in the State by virtue of marriage to an Irish national residing in the State, or be the child of such person, not having EU nationality; or have permission to remain in the State by virtue of marriage to a national of another EU Member State who is residing in the State and who is or has been employed, or self- employed, in the State or be the child of such a person, not having EU nationality; or be nationals of a member county of the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland.

Students must meet the nationality requirement at the time of entry or re-entry to an approved course. However the Grants Schemes contain a 'change in circumstances' clause which provides that a candidate's eligibility may be assessed or re-assessed in the event of a change in circumstances in relation to, inter alia, reckonable income, the number of dependant children, normal residence and nationality, where the candidate becomes an Irish national or the national of another EU member State.

The 'change in circumstances' provision allows candidates who acquire nationality through the naturalisation process, during the course of their studies, to apply to be assessed or re-assessed for grant assistance with effect from the academic term when the change occurs.

The decision on eligibility for third level or further education grants is a matter for the relevant 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 desired.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.