Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if any grants or supports exist for a student aged 26 who has returned to full time education to complete a Masters degree having spent a period of more than a year unemployed following the completion of their undergraduate degree. [46634/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Students entering postgraduates courses who meet the qualifying conditions for the special rate of grant will be eligible to have their post-graduate tuition fees paid up to the maximum fee limit of €6,270 under the Student Grant Scheme. A further limited number of students who would previously have qualified under the standard grant thresholds will qualify to have a €2,000 contribution made towards the costs of their fees. The new income threshold for this payment is €31,500 for the 2012/13 academic year, increasing relative to the number of family dependents. Other supports available to students include the Student Assistance Fund which will continue to be made available through the access offices of third-level institutions to assist students in exceptional financial need.