Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 589: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he has re-examined a post leaving certificate maintenance grant application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7653/10]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Under the terms of the student grant schemes, a student is not eligible for grant assistance in respect of a second period of study at the same level, irrespective of whether or not a grant was paid previously. The decision on eligibility for student grants is a matter for the relevant assessing authority, i.e. the Local Authority or VEC. 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. No appeal has been received by my Department to date from the candidate referred to by the Deputy.

A reply has issued to the correspondence referred to by the Deputy.