Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The Deputy will be aware that the decision on eligibility for grant assistance is a matter for the relevant grant awarding authority - a local authority or VEC.

Further to my answer in this case to Parliamentary Question No. 211 of 13 March 2012, officials of my Department have been in contact with the VEC concerned. I understand that the applicant applied through the grants online facility in July 2011 and that since then, although a number of requests have been made, not all of the outstanding documentation in relation to the application has yet been furnished.

In the circumstances, any further queries in relation to this application should be directed to the VEC.

If the applicant has been deemed ineligible for a student grant by the grant awarding authority, that decision may be appealed to the awarding authority's 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.