This is a summary of the different types of financial support available for those going to college.  You may be eligible to apply for one or more of these supports, so make sure to read each section carefully and make a few phone calls if you need more information.  Best of luck with your studies!

Who can apply for a Maintenance Grant?

Generally speaking, students who are entering approved courses for the first time are eligible for grants where they meet certain conditions regarding age, residence, means and nationality –

Age: A candidate (i.e. the person applying for the grant) must be at least 17 years old on 1st January of the following year.  In the case of the PLC Scheme (see footnote below), a candidate must be at least 15 years old when starting the course.

Residency: The candidate’s parents or guardians, or, in the case of an independent mature candidate, the candidate herself/himself, must have been resident in the County Council/VEC area from 1st October of the previous year.  The County Council/VEC has discretion to waive this requirement in exceptional circumstances.

Nationality: The candidate must be an E.U. national or have Official Refugee Status or have been granted Humanitarian Leave to Remain in the State.

Means (i.e. income): The total income of a family is assessed and, depending on that income, the student may or may not be awarded a grant towards the cost of college.  The actual amount awarded is dependent on the family income.

An adult (over 23) living independently of their parents outside the family home will be assessed on their own income and that of their spouse if applicable. These applicants have to attach their own copies of the various financial documents. Dependent adults/students living in the family home will be assessed on their own income and that of their parents/guardians. These applicants have to attach the household/parental copies of the various financial documents.  If students have been working themselves they also need to include their own financial documents.

The income limits for eligibility for a Maintenance Grant are shown below

(Figures shown for 2008):

Number of dependent children	Full Maintenance	Part Maintenance (75%)	Part Maintenance (50%)	Part Maintenance (25%)	Exempt from student service* (or registration) charge
Less than 4	€39,760	€42,235	€44,720	€47,205	€49,690
4 to 7	€43,680	€46,415	€49,145	€51,880	€54,605
8 or more	€47,430	€50,400	€53,360	€56,320	€59,280

*Full student service charge is paid where income is at or below this level.

If more than one person in the family is going to college:

In the 2007/8 academic year, where two children in the family (or the candidate's parent) are pursuing the courses listed below, the income limits can be increased by €4,685 or by €9,370 where there are three such children and so on, in increments of €4,685. The courses in question are:

§          Full-time third-level courses

§          Recognised PLC courses, student nurse training or student Garda training

§          CERT courses of at least one year's duration

§          Full-time Teagasc courses in agricultural colleges

§          Recognised full-time further education courses of at least one year's duration in Northern Ireland

Can I apply for a Maintenance Grant if I am doing a part-time or evening course?

No. Maintenance Grants are not paid in respect of attendance at part-time and evening courses. However tax relief at the standard rate of tax is available for tuition fees paid by students attending part-time courses approved for tax relief. Tax relief is also available on approved full-time and part-time postgraduate study. Further information on tax relief is available from your local tax office (T: 1890 777 425) or online at www.oasis.gov.ie. The information sheet IT31 – Tax Relief for Tuition Fees has full details.

What is the level of payment?

Rates of Maintenance Grant payments for 2008 are:

	Full Maintenance	Part Maintenance (75%)	Part Maintenance (50%)	Part Maintenance (25%)
Non-Adjacent Rate (Where you live more than 15 miles from the college)	€3,420	€2,565	€1,710	€855
Adjacent Rate (Where you live 15 miles or less from the college)	€1,370	€1,030	€685	€354

There is also a Special Rate of Maintenance Grant, more commonly known as the “Top-Up” Grant.  This provides an extra payment for those whose income is less than €20,147.  You don’t need to fill in any extra application form as eligibility for the ordinary Maintenance Grant and the Top-Up Grant can be assessed from the one form. The Top-Up Grants for 2008 are €1,310 (Adjacent Rate) and €3,270 Non-Adjacent Rate).

How do I apply for a Maintenance Grant?

If you are expecting to study for a Degree or Postgraduate Course in a University or Institute of Technology:

Apply to Louth County Council, County Hall, Millennium Centre, Dundalk, County Louth Tel: 042 – 9353110 or Website: www.louthcoco.ie

If you are expecting to study a Certificate, Diploma, PLC or Trainee course in an Institute of Technology, College of Further Education or PLC centre apply to County Louth VEC, King Street, Drogheda. Tel: 041-9838214 or Website: www.louthvec.ie

The closing date for completed application forms is the 31^st August 2007.

The Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) is a scheme for unemployed people, lone parents and people with disabilities who are getting certain payments from the Department of Social and Family Affairs.

The allowance can be paid to people who wish to do or take approved second or third level courses of education. BTEA is not an unemployment payment. Participants get a standard rate of payment that is not means tested. If you are signing for unemployment 'credits' only, you may qualify to take part in the scheme but you will not get a payment.

For more information, contact:

For current information on the schemes qualifying conditions, please contact your local Social Welfare Office - Social Welfare Office, Custom House Quay, Drogheda, County Louth T: 041 – 987 1130 - or the Employment Support Services (Headquarters), Back to Education Schemes, Gandon House, Amiens Street, Dublin 1 (01) 7043713 or 7043242.

Websites:  www.welfare.ie / www.citizensinformation.ie

The Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme, which is run by the Department of Education and Science, is operated through the VECs. Sometimes courses can take as long as two years. They can lead to qualifications such as Junior Certificate, Leaving Certificate and Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC) certificates. The main objectives of the scheme are:

a) To give unemployed people education and training opportunities that will help them find a job, and

b) To prepare people to go to paid employment or to further educational opportunities leading to paid employment

For more information, contact:

Apply to your local VEC for a place on VTOS. County Louth VEC, King Street, Drogheda. Tel: 041-9838214 or Website: www.louthvec.ie

What is it?

The fund is designed to help to cover the cost of expenses such as fees, books, travel, childcare, and rent for students living outside of Drogheda, or other necessary resources.

Who can apply?

§    Applicants must be resident within the town boundary of Drogheda.

§    The fund is targeted at people on low income, people with disabilities, Travellers, mature students, lone parents and other minority groups.

§    Students must be studying at Certificate, Diploma, Degree or Postgraduate level in a University or Institute of Technology, or a PLC course recognised under the Higher Education Links Scheme.

What is the level of payment?

The average payment in 2007 was €500.

How do I apply?

Fill in and return the Millennium Partnership Fund application form available from Drogheda Partnership or from Drogheda Youth Development, Narrow West Street, Drogheda no later than by Friday 10^th October 2008.

For further information, contact:

Hugh Doogan, Education & Youth Co-ordinator, Drogheda Partnership, Workspace Centre, Mayoralty Street, Drogheda

Tel: 041 – 984 2088 or Email hugh@droghedapartnership.ie or checkout Website: www.droghedapartnership.ie

Application Forms can be downloaded from the Drogheda Partnership website.

What is it?

Drogheda Partnership operates an Educational & Vocational Training Access Funds to assist people from within the target groups to return to education or courses in vocational training, which will substantially enhance their ability to secure employment.

Who can apply?

§          Applicants must reside within the urban boundary of Drogheda and have been resident for 390 days (the period of eligibility for Unemployment Benefit)

§          Applicants should preferably be aged 23 years or over.  Priority will be given to applicants in this age range.

§          Applicants must be pursuing a recognised course of study or vocational training, which will:

(a)     Enhance their employability

(b)     Enhance their ability to become self-employed

(c)     Contribute to their personal development and positively impact on their ability to source employment.

What are the Target Groups?

§          Long-term Unemployed (1 year +)

§          Lone Parents

§          Early School Leavers

§          Travellers

§          Elderly People

§          Asylum Seekers & refugees

§          Women Experiencing Disadvantage or Exclusion

What does it cover?
The awards vary according to need.  Eligible expenses include Fees (usually a portion only), Books, Travel Costs and Childcare Expenses.

What courses are eligible?
 Applicants should pursue a course, which is:
(a) Recognised by a national validation authority, leading to an award by a lawfully recognised authority.
(b) Recognise and/or validated by the trade or profession regulating the field of employment.
(c) Acts as a recognised pathway to training qualifications specified in (a) or (b).

For further information, contact:

Education Access Fund: Hugh Doogan, Education & Youth Co-ordinator, Drogheda Partnership, Workspace Centre, Mayoralty Street, Drogheda Tel: 041 – 984 2088 or Email hugh@droghedapartnership.ie or checkout Website: www.droghedapartnership.ie

Vocational Training Access Fund: Pat McDaid, Enterprise Co-ordinator, Drogheda Partnership, Workspace Centre, Mayoralty Street, Drogheda Tel: 041 – 984 2088 or Email pmcdaid@droghedapartnership.ie or checkout Website: www.droghedapartnership.ie

Application Forms for both the Education and Training Access Funds can be downloaded from the Drogheda Partnership website.

Who can apply?

The objective of this fund is to assist students in a sensitive and compassionate manner that might otherwise, because of financial reasons, suffer hardship or be unable to continue their third-level studies. Assistance with such items as books, transport, rent, childcare has been made available in certain instances in the past and can be considered within the fund. There may also be students who do not come within the scope of the third level student support schemes, such as those who are aged under 23, not financially supported by their parents and who face particular financial difficulties. It is not envisaged that support be limited to students on a once-off basis as there may be students who will require continuing financial assistance over a period of time as a result of circumstances such as family breakdown, bereavement, accidents, health problems or domestic arrangements.

How do I apply?

The fund is only available to students who are registered in college. Applications for funding should be made by the individual student to the Access/Disability Officer in their third level institution.

For more information, contact:

The Access / Disability Officer in your third level institution.

q       Original Birth Cert

Available from Central Registrations Office, Haymarket Health Centre, Southbank, John Street, Drogheda T: 041 – 983 8605 or check out www.groireland.ie

q       PPS No  - Personal Public Service Number (PPS Number)

This is your unique reference number for all your dealings with the Public Service e.g. applying for Social Welfare Payments, applying to the tax office for tax credit certificates, etc. If you do not have a PPS Number contact your local Social Welfare Office – Custom House Quay, Drogheda, County Louth T: 041 – 987 1130

q       Social Welfare Statement

It may be necessary to get a Social Welfare Statement if your or your parent is in receipt of benefit or has been in receipt of benefit during some part of the relevant assessment period. Contact your local Social Welfare Office – Custom House Quay, Drogheda, County Louth T: 041 – 987 1130

q       P45

When a person leaves a job their employer must give them a P45.  This shows total pay, tax and PRI deductions from the start of the tax year until the date they left employment.  It is only necessary to have a P45 if employment has been terminated at any time during the relevant assessment period.

q       P60

An employer sends out a P60 to every employee at the end of each year, it shows total pay, tax and PRSI deducted.  If you have lost your P60 you need to contact your employer to get a replacement.

q       P21 (Balancing Statement)

A P21 is a statement of total income, tax credit and tax paid for a particular tax year. You may need to send a PAYE Balancing Statement (P21) to your Local Authority as proof of earnings for the purpose of obtaining a grant. A P21 can be obtained from your local Tax Office. Contact 1890 77 74 25 or check out www.revenue.ie for details of your nearest Tax Office.

q       Separated / Divorced Couples

Complete personal details for both parents e.g. name, address, on maintenance application form.  However only necessary to supply income details of the parent with whom you live.

q       Mature Students

Anyone over 23 and living independently of their parents is considered a mature student; their suitability for financial assistance for college will be assessed on their own financial situation and not that of their parents.