Written answers

Tuesday, 19 January 2010

Department of Education and Science

Higher Education Grants

9:00 pm

Photo of George LeeGeorge Lee (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 1009: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that PhD students who have been eligible for the local authority grant in previous years are now being refused this grant as the value of their college fees which is paid by a scholarship is being taken into account; if there has been a change in policy whereby local authorities take the value of PhD college fees paid by scholarships into account for eligibility for the local authority grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48323/09]

Photo of Batt O'KeeffeBatt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Under Clause 2.2 and 2.3 of the Higher Education Grants Scheme 2009 and Clause 2.1 and 2.2 of the Vocational Education Committees' Scholarship Scheme 2009 provides: - 2.2 A candidate shall not be eligible to hold a grant under this Scheme if he/she holds:

(i) a scholarship/grant awarded by another Local Authority, a Vocational

Education Committee or the Department of Education and Science, or

(ii) any other award payable from public funds, or

(iii) the equivalent of (i) or (ii) from another E.U. Member State.

The provisions at (ii) or (iii) do not include awards such as scholarships, prizes or bursaries, made by the institution being attended or postgraduate research grants where the grant received does not exceed a specified amount, which for the 2009/10 academic year, is specified to be €16,000. In addition, the provision at (ii) does not include awards to candidates under the Student Assistance Fund, the Millennium Partnership Fund and the Fund for Students with Disabilities.

2.3 Notwithstanding clause 2.2 above holders of the following scholarships, if

eligible, may also hold a maintenance grant:-

Easter Week Scholarship Holders

Donagh O'Malley Scholarship Holders

All Ireland Scholarship Holders

Science Foundation Ireland/Dell Scholarship for Young Women in Engineering

Under these Clauses the full value of the award to the student, from public funds, is taken into consideration. Such awards may include two elements: one in respect of fees – either an amount towards the cost of fees or a fee waiver - and, the second, a stipend paid directly to the student for living costs. Where the full value of the award does not exceed the limit specified in the Schemes the student may also be approved for funding under the student grant schemes subject to the terms and conditions of the scheme.

The provisions of these Clauses have been in place for many years and are not a recent change in policy. The process of assessing eligibility for third level grants and the organisation, management and payment of student grants are matters for the relevant local authority or VEC.

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