Vol. 541 No. 4
546 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science if persons awarded third level grants need to re-apply if they change colleges in second or third year or if they repeat a year; the other circumstances when such re-applications are necessary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23287/01]
My Department understands that this question relates to a student who was in receipt of a maintenance grant from County Cork VEC, the body charged with administering the grants scheme in this case. The student in question received grant assistance for year one of a degree course at Waterford Institute of Technology in 1999-2000. In 2000-01 he repeated year one and was, therefore, ineligible for grant assistance. The student recently informed County Cork VEC that he wished to transfer to University College Cork to complete year two of the course, at which point he was advised to re-apply for grant assistance.
Under the terms of the third level student support schemes the award of a grant is provisional for the academic year in question and may not be continued in any subsequent academic year, unless the VEC or local authority is satisfied that the provisions of the scheme continue to be complied with. In this regard the VEC or local authority may reassess a candidate in any subsequent year of his or her course to ensure that the reckonable income limits continue to be complied with. While it is not necessary for a candidate to submit a new application to be reassessed, it is necessary for her or him to submit current income and other details.
My Department understands from County Cork VEC that, in a case where a candidate is being reassessed, it is their practice to ask him or her to submit the necessary current details. The student in question should contact Cork VEC with a view to having his eligibility for grant assistance in the 2001-02 academic year assessed. My Department understands, however, that it will not be necessary for the candidate to submit a new application.
