Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 150: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the process used by him when considering higher education grant appeals; if he does in fact adjudicate on the merits of appeals or merely refer them back to the awarding authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40963/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter for the relevant grant awarding authority in the first instance.

An applicant may appeal the decision of the grant awarding authority to its appeals officer.

Where the appeals officer decides to reject the appeal, the applicant may appeal this decision to my Department or the independent Appeals Board, as appropriate.

All student grant applications made under the 2011 student grant scheme and subsequent schemes are appropriate to the independent Appeals Board. This is provided for under the Student Support Act 2011.

Student grant applications under all previous schemes are appropriate to my Department.

A full review of a student grant application is carried out in both processes to ensure that the terms and conditions of the student grant scheme and governing legislation are properly applied in the cases involved. A decision in this regard subsequently issues from the Department/independent Appeals Board to the appellant and the grant awarding authority as appropriate.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 151: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he is in receipt of an appeal from a person (details supplied) in County Cork regarding the decision by Cork County Vocational Education Committee to refuse them a higher education grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40964/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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No appeal has been received in my Department to date from the candidate referred to by the Deputy.