Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 189: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath is entitled to a mature student grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26985/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department funds three maintenance grant schemes for third level students which are administered by the Local Authorities and the Vocational Education Committees. These are the Higher Education Grants Scheme, the Vocational Education committees' Scholarship Scheme, the Third Level Maintenance Grants Scheme for Trainees and the Maintenance Grants Scheme for Students attending Post Leaving Certificate Courses.

The Higher Education Grants Scheme is administered by the Local Authorities. The other three schemes are administered by the Vocational Education Committees. Under the terms of the maintenance grants schemes grant assistance is awarded to students who meet the prescribed conditions of funding including those which relate to age, residence, means, nationality and previous academic attainment.

As the decision on eligibility for a higher education grant is a matter for the relevant local authority or VEC to determine it will be necessary for the candidate referred to by the Deputy to contact his local authority/VEC directly to have his eligibility assessed.