James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 110: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the eligibility for a third level grant for new entrants in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Longford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34583/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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It is understood that the Deputy is referring to the change in the residency requirement in student grant schemes for the 2010/11 academic year, which was increased from one year to three out of the past five years for the student. This amendment is in line with provisions already outlined in the Student Support Bill. The main purpose of the change is to ensure that persons applying for grants will have more established links with and integration in the State. However, it is envisaged that this change will, in many instances, provide greater flexibility for students who may be returning from abroad.

The residency requirement must be met by the student him/herself in all cases and is no longer linked to the residency of the parent/legal guardian for certain categories of students. However, a candidate may qualify for a grant, having met the residency requirement during the course of their studies. It is a matter for individual grant awarding authorities, in the first instance, to determine eligibility for student grants based on all of the terms and conditions, including the residency clause, of the governing schemes. 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 specific grounds for the appeal.