Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 72: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if provision will be made to change the existing scheme in relation to third level maintenance grants, which prevents students who already hold a qualification at a particular level from being eligible to receive a grant for another course at the same level, in order to accommodate people who have recently lost their jobs and wish to return to college in order to upskill and re enter the work force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12224/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Under the current terms of the third level student grant schemes, maintenance grants are not payable to candidates who already hold a qualification and are pursuing a second qualification at the same level. This restriction applies to every student who already holds a qualification at the same level, irrespective of where that qualification was obtained or whether or not funding was previously awarded.

The objective of the student grant schemes is to assist as many students as possible in obtaining one undergraduate degree and in progressing, where appropriate, to postgraduate studies. There are no plans at present to change the current arrangements. Any such proposal would have to be considered in the light of existing resources and other competing demands in the education sector.