Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 500: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the financial support that is available to a person who has been made redundant and wishes to attend a course in a third level institute to improve their employment skills; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22956/10]

Mary 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. The person referred to by the Deputy may also wish to explore entitlement under the Back to Education Allowance scheme with the Department of Social Protection.