Written Answers - Higher Education Grants Tuesday, 24 January 2012

Dáil Éireann Debate Vol. 752 No. 3 Page of 462

  187.  Deputy Seán Crowe      asked the Minister for Education and Skills      if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a number of leaving certificate students who have applied for the higher education access route, HEAR, grant from as far back as August 2011, are still waiting for medical cards to be issued and that one of the criteria for applying for HEAR is that the family hold a medical card in 2011; and if he will ensure that disadvantaged students are not excluded from receiving the HEAR grant due to the long delays in issuing medical cards. [3381/12]

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn):    The Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) is a third-level admissions scheme for students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The scheme is operated by a number of higher education institutions and not by my Department. Admissions to the institutions under this programme are regulated [578]by the institutions themselves. Further details are available at www.accesscollege.ie. The issue of medical cards is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Health.

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Last Updated: 08/03/2013 16:36:53

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