Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 178: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the case of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3280/12]

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. The Deputy will appreciate that in the absence of all of the relevant details that would be contained in an individual's application form and supporting documentation, it would not be possible for me to say whether or not a student should qualify for the special rate of maintenance grant.

However, the qualifying criteria for the special rate of grant for students applying under the 2011 student grant scheme are: 1. Student must qualify for the ordinary rate of grant; 2. Total reckonable income must not exceed €22,703. 3. On the 31st December 2010, the reckonable income must include an eligible long-term payment prescribed under the scheme. I have no plans to change these criteria. 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.