Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he has had any contact with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government regarding recent decisions by a number of county councils not to issue student grants to those whose families have not paid the household charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41929/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Officials in my Department were in contact with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government for clarification regarding the decision by some local authorities to collect information on payment of the household charge from students who had applied for student grants or their families. Legal advice from my department also suggests that county councils could not withhold the student grant pending payment of the household charge. I understand that there is no decision on the part of local authorities not to issue student grants in such cases.