Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 201: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Science if a person in receipt of a back to education allowance and a maintenance grant who will complete a post-leaving certificate course in the coming months, and who has applied through the CAO for a follow-on degree course starting in 2010 will be considered an existing student and will retain both the back to education allowance and the maintenance grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13223/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Students currently in receipt of the BTEA or VTOS allowances and the maintenance grant will continue to be eligible for both payments for the duration of their current course provided they continue to meet the terms and conditions of the relevant grant schemes.

Students progressing to a new course with effect from 2010/11 will no longer be eligible for student maintenance grants but can apply for assistance towards the cost of the student services charge and any fees payable. A student progressing from a PLC course to a third-level degree course is progressing to a new course.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 202: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Science if in the means test for higher education grants the income of a separated spouse is taken into account or if efforts are made by the education authorities to pursue the separated spouse to contribute if he or she is in a good financial position; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13227/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the relevant assessing authority, i.e. the applicant's local authority or VEC.

Clause 4.4.3 of the Higher Education Grants Scheme states that, "...In the case of a candidate other than an independent mature candidate, the candidate's reckonable income shall be that of the candidate and of the candidate's parents or guardians, except where the candidate's parents are divorced, legally separated or it is established to the satisfaction of the Local Authority that they are separated, in which case, the candidate's reckonable income shall be that of the candidate and of the parent with whom the candidate resides..."

It is a matter for the assessing authority to determine the application of this provision, depending on the particular circumstances in each case.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 203: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Science if a masters in social work in University College Dublin is eligible for support from the higher education grant. [13230/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Due to industrial action on the part of some staff in the Department of Education and Science, I am not in a position to address details of the case referred to by the Deputy.