Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 819: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will reconsider a grant appeal to her Department by a person (details supplied) in County Meath on the grounds that the applicant believes the retirement payment they are in receipt of is analogous with a social welfare pension, which they are not allowed to receive due to the restriction placed on them to pay a full social welfare contribution; if she will change the regulations accordingly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12509/08]

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. 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. Under the existing appeal process my Department has reviewed the case referred to by the Deputy and a decision issued to the student in question. The student is not in receipt of an eligible social welfare payment as specified in the scheme as at the 31 December 2006. Therefore she does not qualify for the special rate of maintenance grant. The appeal cannot be considered further unless additional relevant information, not previously available, is submitted to my Department by the candidate concerned. I have no plans at present to depart from the terms and conditions of the scheme.