James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 302: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason a person (details supplied) in County Longford has not been provided with a third level grant through Longford County Council; the further reason for the delay in processing same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37853/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The decision on eligibility for a higher education grant is a matter for the relevant local authority. If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a maintenance grant, or that the rate of maintenance grant awarded is not the correct one, she/he may appeal, in the first instance, to the relevant local authority.

Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down, in writing, by the relevant local authority and remains of the view that the body has not interpreted the schemes correctly in his/her case, an appeal form outlining the position may be submitted by the applicant to my Department. My Department has received no appeal for the candidate referred to by the Deputy.

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 303: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason a person (details supplied) in County Longford is not eligible for a vocational educational committee scholarship grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37855/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The decision on eligibility for a higher education grant is a matter for the relevant awarding body, a local authority or VEC, as appropriate. The means test for a grant application is normally based on income in the last full financial year. Therefore, eligibility for a student grant for the academic year 2009/10 will be assessed on income from the 2008 financial year.

However, if there has been a change of circumstances in the meantime that is likely to be permanent, then eligibility for the grant may be assessed to reflect those changed circumstances. For example, where a dependent student's parent experiences a permanent change in income level, for example, through a reduction in working hours or unemployment, then they can apply to their local authority or VEC to have their eligibility for a grant assessed on the basis of the new income level.

If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a maintenance grant, or that the rate of maintenance grant awarded is not the correct one, she/he may appeal, in the first instance, to the relevant awarding body. Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down, in writing, by the relevant awarding body and remains of the view that the body has not interpreted the schemes correctly in his/her case, an appeal form outlining the position may be submitted by the applicant to my Department.