Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 178: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will consider revising the rules governing the eligibility for higher education maintenance grants and third level registration fees for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 8; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42441/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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As the decision on eligibility for a higher education grant is a matter for the relevant local authority or VEC to determine it will be necessary for the candidate referred to by the Deputy to contact her assessing authority directly to have her eligibility assessed. These bodies do not refer individual applications to my Department except, in exceptional cases, where, for example, advice or instruction regarding a particular clause in the relevant scheme is required.

If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a maintenance grant, or that the rate of grant awarded is not the correct one, she/he may appeal, in the first instance, to the relevant Local Authority or VEC. Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down, in writing, by the assessing authority, and remains of the view that the body has not interpreted the schemes correctly in her/his case, an appeal form outlining the position may be submitted by the applicant to my Department. The Minister has no plans to depart from the principle of progression in determining eligibility under the schemes.