Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 598: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the financial supports that are available to a person who wishes to undertake further education from home by means of a distance learning programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28162/10]

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 (HEG) Scheme, the Vocational Education Committees' (VEC) Scholarships Scheme, the Third Level Maintenance Grants Scheme for Trainees (TLT) and the Maintenance Grants Scheme for students attending post leaving certificate courses (PLC). The decision on eligibility for third level grants is a matter for the relevant local authority or VEC.

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. In order to qualify for financial assistance under the maintenance grant schemes operated by my Department, a person must pursue a full-time undergraduate course, which must generally be of at least two years duration, at an approved third level institution.

Under the free fees initiative, the Department meets the tuition fees of eligible students who are attending full-time undergraduate courses which must be of at least two years duration, at approved colleges.

Distance learning courses are regarded as part-time programmes of study. Accordingly such courses are not included under the maintenance grant schemes.