MAINTENANCE GRANT
Students on full time approved courses at the Institute are entitled to apply for Maintenance Grants from The Department of Education. The Grant is means tested. Students should apply to their local VEC for further details and an application form. Students in receipt of the Maintenance Grant must pay all the usual costs of the course.
BACK TO EDUCATION INITIATIVE & VTOS
The Department of Social Welfare and The Department of Education and Science administer these two schemes. These schemes offer unemployed adults an opportunity to return to fulltime education while retaining their full social welfare entitlements and in some cases to receive extra benefits.
To qualify, a student needs to be over 21 years of age and in receipt of Social Welfare payments in any of the following for 6 months (156 days) or more:
• Employment Benefit
• Employment Assistance
• Lone Parent Allowance
• Disability Allowance
• Credits
Dependant spouse of longterm unemployed adults also qualify Conditions for these schemes may be altered by the Department of Social Welfare.