Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 160: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the support and options for finance available to an unemployed architect who has secured a place in a teacher training college from January 2012 but who has been told there will be no college grant available to them in view of the fact that the course is not a higher level than their previous qualification, and who has also been informed that they will lose their social welfare because they will not be available to work. [37196/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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In general, students who previously pursued a course of study are not eligible for grant assistance for a second period of study at the same level, irrespective of whether or not a grant was paid previously. Subject to the conditions of the student grant scheme, grants are available where students are progressing to a course at a higher level. The objective of this policy is to assist as many students as possible in obtaining one qualification at each level of study.

Eligibility for, and the payment structure for any social welfare payment is determined and administered by the Department of Social Protection and is primarily a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection.

The student to which the Deputy refers may, however, be eligible for tax relief for his/her tuition fees. Details in relation to this are available on www.revenue.ie.

In addition, the student may be able to avail of support under the Student Assistance Fund which helps students in exceptional financial circumstances. Information on the Fund is available through the access offices of third-level institutions. The access offices themselves also provide support and advice to students to enable them to continue with their studies.