Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 610: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will amend the rules of the higher education grants scheme to allow students who are undertaking courses which are run through collaboration between Fáilte Ireland and ten institutes of technology to avail of appropriate grants; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that unlike previous years, Fáilte Ireland is no longer able to provide a grant to those students and as a result students risk financial hardship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37070/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Although referred to as student grants, I understand that the funding for participants made available by Fáilte Ireland for the programmes in question are in the nature of attendance-based monthly allowances which are not means-tested. Responsibility for funding decisions in relation to such programmes is a matter for Fáilte Ireland and I have no role in the matter. My Department's student grant schemes are fully means tested and therefore cannot replace Fáilte Ireland's scheme of attendance-based grants.

The Higher Education Grant Scheme operates under the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts, 1968 to 1992. Under the scheme, an approved course is defined as a full-time undergraduate course of at least two years duration or a full-time postgraduate course of not less than one year duration pursued in an approved institution. Fáilte Ireland courses do not comply with the terms of the Higher Education Grants Scheme and there are no plans at present to extend the scope of the maintenance grant schemes to such courses.

I understand that discussions are currently ongoing between Fáilte Ireland, Institutes of Technology Ireland and the Higher Education Authority in relation to the future management and administration of these programmes and the levels of award to be made to participants.