Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 352: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the level and type of student grants available to a person who is a mature student and who already has secured a primary degree (details supplied) and who wishes to pursue a post graduate degree in health and safety at one of the universities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22126/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Under the terms of my Department's Third Level Maintenance Grant Schemes, which are administered on behalf of my Department by the Local Authorities and the Vocational Education Committees, the provision is that, students who are entering approved courses for the first time are eligible for grants where they satisfy the relevant conditions as to age, residence, means, nationality and previous academic attainment. An approved course for the purpose of the Schemes means a full-time undergraduate course of not less than two years duration and a full time postgraduate course of not less than one year's duration pursued in an approved institution.

Under the terms of the Schemes a student is not eligible for grant assistance in respect of a second period of study at the same level, irrespective of whether a grant was paid previously. The Schemes also provide that grants may not be paid to candidates who already hold a postgraduate qualification and are pursuing a second postgraduate qualification. Notwithstanding this condition, candidates who already hold a postgraduate qualification and are progressing to a further postgraduate course which represents progression from the level at which the previous postgraduate qualification(s) was attained, may be deemed eligible for grant aid.

The decision on eligibility for third level grants is a matter for the relevant Local Authority or VEC.