Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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Question 464: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the processing time for higher education maintenance grants in north Tipperary vocational education committee; if there has been an increase in the number of applications in 2009 compared to 2008; if there has been an increase in the number of staff processing applications; the longest waiting time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41392/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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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 Courses. The Higher Education Grants Scheme is administered by the Local Authorities. The other three schemes are administered by the Vocational Education Committees. The process of assessing eligibility for third level or further education grants is a matter for the relevant Local Authority or VEC.

Officials in my Department contacted North Tipperary VEC in regard to the details requested by the Deputy. My Officials were advised that the VEC had received a 56% increase in applications between the academic year 2008/2009 and 2009/2010. They were further informed that the staffing compliment during the assessing period in 2008/2009 was 4.5 while in 2009/2010 the staffing complement was 3. It is understood that these staff also support Corporate Governance.

For the 2009/2010 academic year North Tipperary VEC received 853 applications up to the closing date, all of which were processed within 12 weeks. North Tipperary VEC are currently processing applications which had been incomplete together with applications received after the closing date. Students and parents should return all necessary supporting documentation as early as possible to assist the awarding bodies to make prompt decisions on entitlement.