Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 249: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if the third year of a college course has been included on the list of approved courses provided to a vocational education committee under the higher education grant scheme 2009 to allow a student (details supplied) in County Offaly to continue with their studies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39475/09]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) programme provides an integrated general education, vocational training and work experience programme for young people who have completed their Leaving Certificate and adults returning to education. The college referred to by the Deputy is an approved PLC centre. As an approved centre, it applies on an annual basis for approval of PLC courses it intends to run. There are currently no approved PLC courses of three years duration in the college referred to by the Deputy.

Under the PLC Maintenance Grant Scheme, grants may only be awarded in respect of approved PLC courses. The decision on eligibility for student grants is a matter for the relevant assessing authority - i.e. the local authority or VEC.