Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 220: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills if she will advise and support a matter (details supplied). [24060/10]

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 which are administered by the Local Authorities and the Vocational Education Committees. The Higher Education Grant Scheme operates under the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts, 1968 to 1992. Students who are entering approved courses for the first time are eligible for maintenance grants where they satisfy the relevant conditions as to age, residence, means and nationality.

The Third Level maintenance grant schemes were extended to provide maintenance grants to eligible students pursuing approved full-time undergraduate courses of at least two years duration (pursued in a university or a third level institution which is maintained or assisted by recurrent grants from public funds) in other EU Member States with effect from the 1996/97 academic year. The extension of the Schemes at that time did not include courses at postgraduate level within EU or to undergraduate courses outside the EU and, accordingly, there is no grant aid available under my Department's student grant schemes for students pursuing studies outside of the EU.