Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 202: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the funding available to a student completing PhD studies at a college of the National University of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8087/09]

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 the Department by the Local Authorities and the Vocational Education Committees) the position is that students who are entering approved courses for the first time are eligible to be considered for grants where they satisfy the relevant conditions as to residence, means, nationality and previous academic attainment. An approved course for the purposes 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 duration pursued in an approved institution.

The progression route at postgraduate level, for grant purposes, is as follows:- Higher Diploma/Postgraduate Diploma, Masters, PhD/Doctorate. The Free Fees Initiative does not extend to postgraduate study in Ireland, however, if a candidate qualifies for the means-tested maintenance grant he/she could have their fees paid up to the maximum fee limit of €6,270, for the 2009/2010 academic year.