John Cregan (Limerick West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 449: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills her plans to allow mature students who are Irish citizens and currently studying abroad and wish to return home to study, to be exempt from the regulations governing residency status here in order to qualify for a higher education grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21835/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The principal financial support available to students in higher education is the student maintenance grant. Students who are entering approved courses are eligible for financial assistance where they satisfy the relevant conditions including those relating to residency, means, age, nationality and previous academic attainment.

When the Minister announced details of the student maintenance grant schemes for the 2009/2010 academic year notice was given that, with effect from the start of the 2010/2011 academic year, further changes would be introduced including a change to the residency requirement in the State for grant eligibility which will be increased from one year to three out of the past five years for the student - a move that is in line with provisions already outlined in the Student Support Bill.

The full criteria for the 2010 maintenance grant schemes were announced yesterday 24th May, 2010. Clause 4.1.1 in relation to residency of the 2010 Higher Education Grants Scheme states:

"The candidate shall have been ordinarily resident in the State for at least three out of the last five years immediately preceding the date on which a year of study on an approved course in an approved institution commences. If not so resident, the candidate shall have been temporarily resident outside of the State by reason of pursuing a course of study or postgraduate research at an approved institution outside of the State but within an EU Member State, and was resident in the State for at least 3 out of the 5 years immediately preceding the date on which they commenced such course of study or postgraduate research".

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. Detailed information on financial supports for students can be found on the website www.studentfinance.ie.