Written answers

Tuesday, 20 April 2010

Department of Education and Science

Higher Education Grants

9:00 pm

Photo of Arthur MorganArthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 958: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Science the financial supports, including grants, available to students in part-time undergraduate study; the financial supports, including grants, available to students in part-time postgraduate study; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15518/10]

Photo of Mary CoughlanMary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Higher Education Grants Scheme operates under the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts, 1968 to 1992. Under the scheme, an approved course is defined as a full-time undergraduate course of at least two years duration or a full-time postgraduate course of not less than one year duration pursued in an approved institution. There are no plans at present to extend the scope of the student support schemes to part-time courses.

However, Section 473A, Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997 provides for tax relief, at the standard rate of tax, for tuition fees paid in respect of approved full-time or part-time courses in both private and publicly funded third level colleges and universities in the State and any other EU Member State. Further details and conditions in relation to this tax relief are available from the Revenue Commissioners.

Photo of Pat BreenPat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 959: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Science if a person (details supplied) qualifies for a maintenance grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15525/10]

Photo of Mary CoughlanMary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The eligibility requirements for student grants, including those relating to nationality, are set out annually in the relevant grant schemes drawn up by my Department.

Under the terms of the Higher Education Grant Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those which relate to nationality, residency, means and previous academic attainment.

The nationality requirement as set out in clause 4.5 of the 2009 scheme states that candidates must: - be a national of an EU Member State, a state which is a contracting state to the EEA Agreement, the Swiss Confederation or - a refugee or other person entitled for the time being to the rights and privileges specified in section 3 of the Refugee Act 1996; or - be a person, pursuant to the European Communities (Eligibility for Protection) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 518 of 2006) who the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has determined is eligible for the time being for subsidiary protection pursuant to Regulation 4 of those Regulations, or to whom the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has granted permission for the time being in writing to enter and reside in the State pursuant to Regulation 16 of those Regulations; or - have permission to remain in the State by virtue of marriage to a national of another EU Member State who is residing in the State and who is or has been employed, or self-employed, in the State, or be the child of such a person, not having EU nationality; or - have permission to remain in the State by virtue of marriage to an Irish national residing in the State, or be the child of such person, not having EU nationality; or - have been granted Humanitarian Leave to Remain in the State (prior to the Immigration Act 1999); or - be a person in respect of whom the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has granted permission to remain following a determination not to make a deportation order under section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999.

Students should apply to their assessing authority to have their eligibility assessed. 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. An applicant may appeal the decision to the relevant local authority or VEC. Where the assessing authority decides to reject the appeal, the applicant may appeal this decision to my Department by submitting an appeal form outlining clearly the grounds for the appeal.

Photo of Kieran O'DonnellKieran O'Donnell (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 960: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Science his plans regarding the provision of third level grant aid for new and existing applicants for third level grants, in particular their entitlement to maintenance support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15529/10]

Photo of Mary CoughlanMary Coughlan (Donegal South 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 (PLC) Courses. The Higher Education Grant Scheme is administered by the local authorities on behalf of my Department; the other three maintenance grant schemes are administered on a similar basis by the VECs.

Students who are entering approved courses for the first time are eligible for grants where they satisfy the relevant conditions as to age, residence, means, nationality and previous academic attainment. Eligibility for grant assistance is a matter for the relevant local authority or VEC to establish. Students should apply to their local authority or VEC to establish their eligibility.

Photo of Ruairi QuinnRuairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 961: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Science if she will allow students who have spent the current academic year participating in an access course at a higher education institution to be viewed as continuing students and not as new applicants for the back to education allowance to ensure that they can remain eligible for the higher education maintenance grant in addition to the back to education allowance payment in Autumn 2010; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15530/10]

Photo of Mary CoughlanMary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that the current difficult economic circumstances have necessitated tough choices to control public expenditure and to ensure sustainability in the long run. In these circumstances, from September 2010, as announced in the Budget, all new applicants who are in receipt of the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA), and the VTOS allowances for those pursuing PLC courses, will be ineligible for student maintenance grants. The cost of the student services charge and any fees payable to colleges will continue to be met for eligible students by the Exchequer on their behalf.

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.

It was decided to discontinue the practice of allowing students to hold both the BTEA or VTOS allowance and a student maintenance grant simultaneously as this represents a duplication of income support payments.

Access/foundation courses are not approved courses under the terms and conditions of the maintenance grant schemes and students on an access course in the 2009/10 academic year would not be in receipt of a student maintenance grant. In addition, progression from an access course to a degree course is not a continuation of the same course and therefore students progressing from an access course to an approved course would not be eligible to hold the BTEA and a student maintenance grant for the 2010/11 academic year onwards.

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