Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 138: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware that honours degree courses which have been developed by a college (details supplied) are not recognised by her Department for the award of three year degree course grants because they are funded through the vocational education committee system which only offers support for two year courses and her plans to remove this restriction [37190/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has facilitated the running of the course referred to by the Deputy in a PLC centre for the last number of years. It is accredited by Dundee University as the equivalent of a Level 8 award on the National Framework of Qualifications (Honours Bachelor Degree/Higher Diploma). The conditions of approval for the PLC programme state that the level of certification on completion must be at FETAC Level 5 or Level 6 or equivalent.

My Department funds four maintenance grant schemes, three at third level, the Higher Education Grants (HEG) Scheme, the Vocational Education Committees' (VEC) Scholarships Scheme, the Third Level Maintenance Grants Scheme for Trainees (TLT) and one for students attending Post Leaving Certificate Courses (PLC). The HEG Scheme is administered by the Local Authorities on behalf of my Department, the other three maintenance grant schemes are administered on a similar basis by the VECs. The PLC Scheme prescribes the terms and conditions of funding in respect of students attending approved courses in approved PLC Centres.

Students attending the course to which the Deputy refers are not eligible for grants under the maintenance scheme for students attending Post Leaving Certificate Courses as the level of certification is not appropriate to the PLC programme. I understand from the VEC concerned that prospective students are informed of the absence of grant support for the degree courses before they apply for places.