Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 203: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when deciding on the distance involved in the non-adjacent grant for third level students, if the distance of 45 km is solely decided as the shortest distance between the student's address and the college or is the actual journey travelled by the student as a result of using public transport is taken into account; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34479/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter for the applicant's local grant awarding authority - the relevant local authority or VEC. The guidance given to local authorities and VECs in relation to the application of the distance criterion for student grants is that the shortest, most direct route to the institution attended is measured. The implementation of this guidance is a matter for individual grant awarding authorities, which will be best positioned to interpret its application in the context of local circumstances. Where an applicant is not satisfied with the decision of the grant awarding authority, he/she may submit an appeal to have the decision reviewed.

Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 204: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review a situation in respect of a person (details supplied) regarding the non-adjacent grant for third level students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34480/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter for the applicant's local grant awarding authority - the relevant local authority or VEC. The guidance given to local authorities and VECs in relation to the application of the distance criterion for student grants is that the shortest, most direct route to the institution attended is measured. The implementation of this guidance is a matter for individual grant awarding authorities, which will be best positioned to interpret its application in the context of local circumstances. Where an applicant is not satisfied with the decision of the grant awarding authority, he/she may submit an appeal to that body to have the decision reviewed. Where such an appeal is unsuccessful, it is open to the applicant to appeal the decision to my Department or to the Student Grants Appeal Board, as appropriate. No appeal has been received in my Department from the student to date in this case.