Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 117: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills if she will support the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38502/10]

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). 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.

Under the terms of the PLC scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students who meet prescribed conditions of funding including those which relate to previous academic attainment. Students attending the course to which the Deputy refers must hold the HND in Animation or relevant and equivalent qualification. As students entering the above course already hold the equivalent of a Level 6 qualification, they are not eligible for grants under the maintenance scheme for students attending Post Leaving Certificate Courses.

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.