Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 330: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason a person (details supplied) in County Louth has not been granted a higher education grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5402/08]

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. 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 had an appeal turned down, in writing, by the relevant local authority or VEC, and remains of the view that the body has not interpreted the schemes correctly in his/her case, an appeal form outlining the position may be submitted by the applicant to my Department. Alternatively, as already indicated, the local authority or VEC may, itself, in exceptional circumstances, seek clarification on issues from, my Department. Louth County Council, the assessing body in the case referred to by the Deputy, contacted my Department in respect of this application. They requested further documentation from the applicant in order to complete the assessment process. The information was not submitted and, consequently, the application expired. I understand Louth County Council have written to the applicant to advise them that as the information requested was not submitted the application is now considered closed for the 2007/08 academic year.