Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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206. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare is in receipt of the special rate of Student Universal Support Ireland grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6485/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the student referred to by the Deputy was ineligible for the special rate of maintenance grant as the reckonable income exceed the prescribed income limit as specified in the Student Grant Scheme. To qualify for the special rate of grant an applicant must meet the following conditions: 1. Reckonable income must not exceed €22,703. 2. On the 31st December of the relevant period the reckonable income must include an eligible long-term social welfare payment prescribed under the scheme. Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down, in writing, by SUSI, and remains of the view that SUSI has not interpreted the scheme correctly in his/her case, an appeal form outlining the position may be submitted by the applicant to the Student Grants Appeals Board. The relevant appeal form is available to download from .

Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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207. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if financial assistance will be provided to a mature student who wants to participate in a private course (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6491/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Private colleges operated on a for-profit basis are not listed as approved institutions for student grant purposes. Details regarding the student grant scheme and the student support regulations, which specify the criteria for approved courses as well as approved institutions, are available on my Department's website. They are also available via the www.susi.ie and www.studentfinance.ie. Tax relief on tuition fees may be available for students attending courses in private colleges. Details in relation to tax relief is available from the Revenue Commissioners. I have no plans to extend the scope of the student grant schemes to private colleges operated on a "for profit" basis at this time.