Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 134: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the grants a student can avail of when pursuing a postgraduate course (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25197/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

My Department funds four maintenance grant schemes for third level and further education students. These are the Higher Education Grants Scheme, the Vocational Education Committees' Scholarships Scheme, the Third Level Maintenance Grants Scheme for Trainees and the Maintenance Grants Scheme for Students attending Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) Courses. The Higher Education Grant Scheme is administered by the Local Authorities on behalf of my Department; the other three maintenance grant schemes are administered on a similar basis by the VECs.

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. The PLC Scheme prescribes the terms and conditions of funding in respect of students attending courses in approved PLC Centres. Eligibility for grant assistance, in the case referred to by the Deputy, is a matter for the relevant VEC to establish. The candidate referred to by the Deputy should apply, if they have not already done so, to their local VEC to establish eligibility for the course they are applying to do.