Vol. 476 No. 2
176 Miss Coughlan asked the Minister for Education if physiotherapy courses are grantaided in United Kingdom universities; if not, when this will be introduced; and if it will be retrospective; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6827/97]
The schemes of student support provide for the extension of means tested maintenance grants in the 1996-97 academic year to students following fulltime undergraduate courses of at least two years duration in an EU member state. The course must be followed in a university or third level institution which is maintained or assisted by recurrent grants from public funds. The following courses are excluded: postgraduate courses; courses in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine which are subject to a Higher Education Authority quota on places — and teacher training including those leading to the award of Bachelor of Education also subject to quota; courses in colleges of further and higher education; courses in colleges akin to private commercial colleges in Ireland and courses provided in colleges in Britain which are offered in a private commercial third level college in Ireland and which are validated by that British college.
Students pursuing courses such as physiotherapy courses which satisfy the above criteria may apply to their local authority — vocational education committee to have their eligibility for grant-aid assessed.
