Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 519: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will review the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry who is appealing a refusal to award them a full rate grant while attending Tralee Institute of Technology on the grounds that their route is just under the 15 mile designation. [37031/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The three Third Level Student Support Schemes, administered by the Local Authorities and the Vocational Education Committees on behalf of my Department, offer financial assistance to eligible students attending approved third level courses. Students entering approved courses for the first time are, generally speaking, eligible for grants where they satisfy the relevant conditions as to age, residence, means, nationality and previous academic attainment.

Under the student support schemes, maintenance grants are payable at either the adjacent or the non-adjacent rate. The adjacent rate of maintenance grant is payable where the grant holder's normal residence is 24 Km or less from the college which he/she is attending. The non-adjacent rate of maintenance grant is payable in all other cases, with the exception of all eligible mature students who, with effect from the 1999/2000 academic year, qualify for the higher non-adjacent rate of grant. In each case the shortest, most direct route to college is measured to establish the distance concerned.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 520: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if a reassessment or appeal of an application for a third level education grant in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare can take place in view of the fact that the person explained to the authority that it may take some time to obtain the information requested as their father is self-employed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37034/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The closing date for receipt of grant applications under the 2008 maintenance grant schemes is the 29th August 2008. Clause 11.1 awards the awarding authorities discretion to accept applications after this date and treat such application as if it had been received on time. Clause 13 of the schemes states that the applicant "shall submit to the Local Authority [VEC] such information and documentation as may be required by it to process the application in full. It will be the responsibility of candidates to ensure that the statement of income and other details sought is full and complete in every aspect." Where the candidate fails to provide details sought by the awarding authority it will not be possible for the applicant to be considered further under the terms of the grant schemes.