Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 447: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 8 applying for a maintenance grant in order to further their education cannot use a letter from a landlord or a sworn affidavit to certify their proof of address in order that they can complete their grant application; his views on whether affidavits are valid legal documents for certifying information in the courts; the measures he is taking to ensure that affidavits or similar legal documents are valid for the purposes of grant applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6961/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The decision on eligibility for student maintenance grants is a matter for the relevant assessing authority, either the local authority or VEC, as appropriate. These bodies do not refer individual applications to my Department, except in exceptional circumstances. In order to establish the candidate's status as an independent mature student, documentary evidence is required as proof of a candidate's ordinary/permanent address from the 1st October of the year preceding entry to college. Examples of the type of documentary evidence which would establish residence are as follows:

(i) Utility bills, such as a telephone, gas or ESB bill;

(ii) Evidence of registration with the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB);

(iii) Official documentation from any Government Department e.g. The Department of Social and Family Affairs or the Revenue Commissioners (if any).

The awarding authorities are obliged to satisfy themselves beyond doubt that an acceptable degree of proof is submitted by the grant applicant in establishing eligibility under all aspects of the schemes. This requires the candidate to supply appropriate evidence verifying his status. If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a maintenance grant, or that the rate of maintenance grant awarded is not the correct one, she/he may appeal, in the first instance, to the relevant local authority or VEC.

Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down, in writing, by the relevant local authority or VEC and remains of the view that the body has not interpreted the schemes correctly in his/her case, an appeal form outlining the position may be submitted by the applicant to my Department.