Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 659: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo was refused third level funding in respect of a level nine course; and if he will review this case and approve third level funding to the applicant. [26974/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Financial assistance is available to students under the Third Level Student Support Schemes, which are administered by the Local Authorities and Vocational Education Committees on behalf of my Department. 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.

Under the terms of the Higher Education Grant Scheme a student is not eligible for grant assistance in respect of a second period of study at the same level, irrespective of whether or not a grant was paid previously. The scheme also provides that grants may not be paid to candidates who already hold a postgraduate qualification and are pursuing a second postgraduate qualification.

However, in December 2000 clause 7.7 of the H.E.G. Scheme was amended to provide financial assistance to eligible candidates who already hold a postgraduate qualification and who wish to enter a further postgraduate course, at a higher level, which represents progression from the level at which the first qualification was attained.

The progression route at postgraduate level, for grant purposes, is as follows: Higher Diploma/Postgraduate Diploma; Masters; PhD/Doctorate. The Higher Diploma and Postgraduate Diploma qualifications are considered to be at the same level for grant purposes. As the candidate referred to by the Deputy already holds a Higher Diploma, and is currently pursuing a further postgraduate qualification at a similar level, for grants purposes this does not represent progression.