Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 137: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will address a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6572/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The Higher Diploma in Science in Computing in Letterkenny Institute of Technology was funded under the Department's 2010 Labour Market Activation Fund. Funding for this course is available until June 2011. Eligible participants participating in the programme until June 2011 received fee support under Labour Market Activation funding.

With regard to additional financial assistance, under the terms of the Higher Education Grant Scheme which covers full time programmes of study, a student is not eligible for grant assistance in respect of a second period of study at the same level, irrespective of whether or not a grant was paid previously. However, financial assistance may be available to eligible candidates who wish to study full time at higher level, which represents progression from the level at which the first qualification was attained. The main objective of this policy is to assist as many students as possible in obtaining one undergraduate degree and in progressing, where appropriate, to a postgraduate course of study. Subject to the conditions of the individual schemes, free tuition and grants are available where students are progressing to a course at a higher level.

Eligibility for the Back to Education Allowance and associated payments is determined and administered by the Department of Social Protection and is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection.