Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 167: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a person (details supplied) in County Galway has recently been denied a higher education grant; and the reason for this decision, in view of the fact that the guidelines set out by her Department indicate their entitlement to this grant. [13457/08]

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 — the Local Authority or VEC. 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. The Department has received no appeal from the candidate referred to by the Deputy.