Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a person (details supplied) in County Cork who was unable through illness to complete first year, will be grant aided on the basis of a new Central Applications Office application if successful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18043/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland that the student referred to by the Deputy has been awarded a grant and an award letter issued on 4 January, 2013.

If the student is commencing a new course of study in the academic year 2013/14 it will be necessary for her to establish her eligibility by submitting a fully completed online grant application to Student Universal Support Ireland via the studentfinance.ie website once the application process for the 2013/14 academic year opens.

Article 15(8) of the Student Grant Scheme 2012 provides awarding authorities with discretion to waive the provisions of Article 15(7)(b)(ii) in exceptional circumstances and consider funding for a repeat period of study, in line with guidelines drawn up by the Minister.

The Deputy will appreciate that in the absence of all of the relevant details that would be contained in an individual's application in relation to exceptional circumstances for a repeat period of study, it would not be possible for me to say whether or not a student would qualify for a grant.