Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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258. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide funding to assist a third level student with a placement which is to be undertaken in Europe as part of a course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9623/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter for the relevant grant awarding authority.

The Deputy will appreciate that in the absence of all of the relevant details that would be contained in an individual's application form, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means, it would not be possible for me to say whether or not a student would qualify for a grant or what level of grant would be appropriate.

In general terms, eligible candidates may receive funding provided they are attending an approved course at an approved institution as defined in the scheme. Students who are attending undergraduate courses in an EU Member State can apply for a maintenance grant in respect of an approved course which is being pursued in an approved institution. The student grant scheme does not extend to postgraduate courses pursued outside of Ireland.

Where grant holders, as part of their approved course, are required to attend foreign university courses for a period of up to one year, a maintenance grant may continue to be paid provided the period abroad does not affect the normal duration of the approved course. In such circumstances, the higher non-adjacent rate of maintenance grant is payable for the duration of the grant holder's study abroad.