Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 164: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills to liaise with South Tipperary Vocational Education Committee in relation to a person's application for higher education from County Tipperary (details supplied) in view of information provided which indicates refusal of a higher education grant based on an issue between the Department and the VEC; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35420/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the relevant grant awarding authority, i.e. the applicant's local authority or VEC. An applicant may appeal the decision to the relevant local authority or VEC. Where an awarding authority rejects an appeal, the student may appeal this decision to my Department by submitting an appeal form outlining clearly the grounds for the appeal. The Deputy will appreciate that, given my Department's role in the appeals procedure, direct liaison with the grant awarding authority on the details of an individual case at this point in the process would not be appropriate.

Question No. 165 answered with Question No. 157.