John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 50: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) in County Waterford has been prevented from obtaining a top up third level grant due to the changeover from lone parent allowance to jobseeker's allowance; if she will examine this anomaly and ensure a combination of time on long-term social welfare payments is acceptable for top up purposes; if she will investigate this case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36924/10]

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.

Where a grant application is refused, the reason for the refusal is given by the grant awarding authority.

An applicant may appeal the decision to the relevant local authority or VEC.

Where the grant awarding authority decides to reject the appeal, the applicant may appeal this decision to my Department by submitting an appeal form outlining clearly the grounds for the appeal.

No appeal has been received by my Department to date from the candidate referred to by the Deputy.

To qualify for the Special Rate of maintenance grant, an applicant must qualify for the ordinary maintenance grant in respect of the 2010/11 academic year. In addition, total reckonable income must not exceed a specified amount, which is €22,703 in the 2009 tax year. On the operative date, 31st December 2009 for the 2010/11 academic year, the reckonable income must include one of the eligible long-term Social Welfare payments prescribed under the scheme.