Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 256: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the eligibility terms and conditions for an independent mature student, who is over 24 years of age, to avail of a higher education grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10738/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Maintenance Grant Schemes, students who are entering approved courses for the first time are eligible for financial assistance where they satisfy the relevant conditions as to residence, means, age, nationality and previous academic attainment.

A mature student is defined as a candidate who is at least 23 years of age on the 1st January of the year of entry or re-entry to an approved course. Mature students are then categorised as either independent mature students or mature students dependent on parents. An independent mature student is defined to mean a mature student who was not ordinarily resident at home with his/her parents from the October preceding their entry to an approved course.

Independent mature students are deemed to be self-supporting and are assessed without reference to either their parents' income or address. The decision on eligibility for student maintenance grants is a matter for the relevant assessing authority, either the local Authority or VEC, as appropriate. The assessing 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.