Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 1092: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will provide the funding for a course (details supplied) in view of the fact that funding for same has been withdrawn. [32936/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I understand, following consultation between the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and FÁS, that the funding referred to by the Deputy is the funding for grant assistance that was targeted by FÁS at persons in employment towards the cost of participation on a particular course in the higher education institution also referred to by the Deputy. This funding was awarded on a year by year basis by FÁS, under its Training of People in Employment programmes, subject to available funding being available. I further understand that while FÁS did fund students on this particular course, the numbers being funded have declined over recent years. Responsibility for funding decisions in relation to such programmes are a matter for FÁS and I have no role in the matter.

Regarding the provision of funding support by my Department towards fees and maintenance support for this course, as referred to by the Deputy, the position is that under the terms of my Department's free fees schemes the exchequer meets the tuition fees of eligible full-time students who are pursuing approved full-time undergraduate courses of study in an approved institution. Students eligibility for free tuition fees is determined by each individual institution.

Currently my Department funds four maintenance grant schemes for third level and further education students. These are the Higher Education Grants Scheme, the Vocational Education Committees' Scholarships Scheme, the Third Level Maintenance Grants Scheme for Trainees and the Maintenance Grants Scheme for Students attending Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) Courses. The Higher Education Grant Scheme is administered by the Local Authorities on behalf of my Department; the other three maintenance grant schemes are administered on a similar basis by the VECs. Students who are entering approved courses for the first time are eligible for grants where they satisfy the relevant conditions as to age, residence, means, nationality and previous academic attainment.

The decision on eligibility for student grants is a matter for the relevant assessing authority — i.e. the local authority or VEC. Candidates wishing to apply for the means-tested maintenance grant should apply, if they have not already done so, to their local VEC to establish eligibility.