Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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Question 235: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding grant aid in respect of a person (details supplied). [27354/11]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 254: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the options available to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27525/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 235 and 254 together.

I regret that the economic circumstances of the country are such that I am not in a position to reverse or vary any of the changes to the student grant scheme announced in Budget 2011 by the previous Fianna Fáil - Green Party Government. These changes include the removal of the automatic entitlement of mature students to the non-adjacent rate of grant and an increase in the qualifying distance criterion for the non-adjacent rate of grant.

However, it might be helpful for the student in question to know that she can apply for assistance under the Student Assistance Fund. This Fund at some €5m continues to be made available through the access offices of third-level institutions to assist students in exceptional financial need. The access offices themselves will also provide support and advice to students to help them to continue with their studies.