Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 182: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if, in view of the crisis in which qualified people in the construction sector are required to re-skill, he will lift some of the restrictions that apply to grant eligibility for undertaking study at undergraduate level or introduce other tailored re-skilling or back to education programmes for graduates in job areas in which demand has collapsed. [13732/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

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.