Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 210: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that some county councils are paying higher education grants in respect of Erasmus year whilst others are not (details supplied); and if he will issue a direction to all county councils to approve such grants. [8150/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The Higher Education Grants Scheme provides that where grant holders, as part of their approved course, are required to attend foreign university courses for a period of up to one year, a maintenance grant may continue to be paid where the period abroad does not affect the normal duration of the approved course. In these situations, the higher non-adjacent rate of maintenance grant is payable for the duration of the grant holder's study abroad. The candidate referred to by the Deputy has been approved for a three year Bachelor of Arts and the Erasmus year is deemed to extend the normal duration of the approved course.