Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 269: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Science if she will immediately put in place the qualifying conditions for FETAC and HETAC courses for September 2010 in order that students can plan in advance; if changes are to be made in the qualifying conditions for persons with degrees in areas in which there is no work at present so that they can qualify and plan to do a further degree or diploma; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that at present students are not covered if they already have a degree despite the fact that employment is not available in their field; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17518/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Financial assistance is available to students under the maintenance grant schemes, which are administered by the local authorities and Vocational Education Committees on behalf of my Department. 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.

Under the terms of the Higher Education Grant Scheme 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. However, financial assistance is available to eligible candidates who already hold a postgraduate qualification and who wish to enter a further postgraduate course, at a higher level, which represents progression from the level at which the first qualification was attained. The progression route at postgraduate level, for grant purposes, is as follows: Higher Diploma/Postgraduate Diploma, Masters, PhD/Doctorate.

Candidates who hold a undergraduate qualification and are pursuing a second undergraduate qualification cannot be considered for funding. In addition, persons pursuing a second undergraduate degree cannot, in general, avail of the Free Fees Initiative. It should also be noted that the Free Fees Initiative does not extend to postgraduate study.