Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 461: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason a disability grant for a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath has not been awarded to date; if she will take steps to ensure that same is awarded without further delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14177/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The National Access Office of the Higher Education Authority administers the Fund for Students with Disabilities on behalf of my Department. All institutions, prior to the beginning of the academic year, are notified of the application deadlines which apply at different times during the academic year.

In relation to the student referred to by the Deputy, the application to the Fund was received after the initial deadline of 19 October 2007. In line with existing practice, the applications submitted subsequent to the deadline were assessed after the applications submitted on time were assessed. The National Access Office received in excess of 500 additional late applications subsequent to the October deadline. I understand that the application in respect of the student referred to was assessed in line with procedural guidelines and that a decision was notified to the institution involved on 03 April 2008. It is the role of the institution to notify the student of the outcome of an application.