THIRD LEVEL AND PLC COLLEGE GRANTS

Application forms and guidance notes for candidates applying for college maintenance grants are NOW available to download BELOW:

• You must print out the application form and guidance notes.  Complete and return the application form to either Co Monaghan VEC, Market Street, Monaghan or Monaghan County Council, The Glen, Monaghan
• When you have accepted your college placement you must download, complete and return one of the Final Acceptance Forms FA1, FA2 or SA1

Application forms can also be obtained from www.studentfinance.ie:                        

There are four types of Maintenance Grants

2. VEC Scholarships – for students:

• Doing Honours Bachelor degree courses (Level 8) at Institutes of Technology, DIT Colleges, NCAD, DCU, UL, NCI etc.
• Progressing to degree courses at Institutes of Technology in the south of Ireland and Universities (both in Ireland and UK), having successfully completed Higher National Certificate or Ordinary Degree Courses or HND Courses (Northern Ireland and UK)
• Progressing from degree courses to full-time post-graduate courses in the south and north of Ireland – no funding for post-graduate courses outside of Ireland
• Attending Higher National Diploma courses at specific Colleges in Northern Ireland and UK

3. PLC Maintenance Grants – for students doing recognised PLC (Post Leaving Certificate) Courses in Colleges in the South of Ireland (e.g. MIFET in Monaghan).

Awarding Authority for 1, 2 AND 3 Above is COUNTY MONAGHAN VEC

4. HEG – Higher Education Grants – for students commencing degree courses (Level 8) for the first time in Universities e.g. NUIG, UCD; Teacher Training Colleges, University of Ulster, recognised universities in EU etc.

Awarding Authority for 4 is MONAGHAN COUNTY COUNCIL

Application Forms  & Guidance Notes available NOW  above or from: Student Finance Website

N.B. – Only one application form to be completed and returned to:
Co. Monaghan VEC, Market Street, Monaghan
Telephone: 047-30888

OR
Monaghan County Council, The Glen, Monaghan
Telephone: 047-30550

Independent Mature Candidate

If you are over 23 at 1st January, 2010 and independent, your income and that of your spouse, if relevant, must be assessed

Dependent Mature Candidate

If you are over 23 at 1st January, 2010 and living with parent/s, your income and their income must be assessed

Candidate other than Mature

If you are under 23 at 1st January, 2010, your income (if relevant) and your parent/s income must be assessed

  VOCATIONAL EDUCATION COMMITTEES' SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME 2010

2010 Reckonable Income Limits

for the period 1  January 2009 to 31 December 2009 (the tax year 2009)

 2010/2011 SPECIAL RATE OF MAINTENANCE (TOP-UP)

For the award of a special rate of maintenance grant (additional to the ordinary maintenance grant) in respect of the 2009/2010 academic year, a candidate’s reckonable income (for the period 1 January, 2009 to 31 December 2009, (the tax year 2009) shall not exceed: - €22,703

 
›› net of standard exclusions (as set out in Clause 1 of Schemes)
and
››  net of Child Dependant Increase (C.D.I.) paid by the Department of Social and Family Affairs

As at 31st December 2009, the Reckonable Income for Top-Up MUST include an eligible social welfare payment. The list of Eligible Payments are included in an Appendix to all Schemes.

 LIST OF ELIGIBLE PAYMENTS


1. SOCIAL ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS 

 
2. SOCIAL INSURANCE PAYMENTS 

 

3. FAMILY INCOME SUPPLEMENT (FIS)


4. DESIGNATED PROGRAMMES 

Back to Education Allowance (Second Level and Third Level Option)

Back to Work Allowance (Employees)

Back to Work Enterprise Allowance

Community Employment Scheme 

Rural Social Scheme

FÁS Training Programmes, including Apprenticeships

Part time job incentive scheme

Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS 

5. OTHERS

a) In receipt of payments under the Fáilte Ireland Skills Programme equivalent to a social welfare payment;

b) In receipt of payments under the FIT (Fastrack to IT) initiative equivalent to a social welfare payment;

c) Participants on a training course approved by a Government Department, State Agency or Area Partnership and who were in receipt of an eligible payment prior to progressing to the programme;

d) Grant aided employees in social economy enterprises; 

e) In receipt of payments under the Senior Traveller Training Centre programmes.

  Special Rates Maintenance Grant for 2010/2011

For more information on financial supports for students in further and higher education check out the new student finance website www.studentfinance.ie