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THE VOCATIONAL EDUCATION COMMITTEES SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME, 2009

THE THIRD LEVEL MAINTENANCE GRANTS SCHEME FOR TRAINEES, 2009

THE MAINTENANCE GRANTS SCHEME FOR STUDENTS ATTENDING POST LEAVING CERTIFICATE COURSES, 2009

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1. The Vocational Education Committees listed hereunder offer scholarships tenable at Institutes of Technology and other Technological Colleges during the academic year 2009/2010.

2. Eligibility for first year trainees for a Maintenance Grant under the Third Level Maintenance Grants Scheme Programmes will be assessed by the Vocational Education Committees.

3. Eligibility for trainees for a Maintenance Grant under the Maintenance Grant Scheme for trainees attending Post Leaving Certificate Courses will be assessed by the Vocational Education Committee.

Copies of all Schemes together with application forms and further documentation/instructions are available from the Chief Executive Officer of the Vocational Education Committee area in which applicants reside.

Applicants should note carefully that all necessary documentation, as set out in the instructions, should be supplied with the application.

Incomplete applications will be returned.

The closing date for receipt of complete application forms, which  should be returned to the appropriate Chief Executive Officer,  is  5.00 p.m. on Monday, 31^st August, 2009.

While late applications may be considered, priority will be given to complete applications received prior to the closing date.

County Kildare:         Mr. S. Ashe, C.E.O.,

                                     Co. Kildare Vocational Education Committee,

                                     Áras Chill Dara,

                                     Devoy Park,

                                     Naas,

                                     Co. Kildare.

 (Please enclose a €1.90  stamped addressed envelope (12" x 9").

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County Carlow:           Ms. Cynthia Deane, C.E.O.,

                                       Co. Carlow Vocational Education Committee,

                                       Athy Road,

                                       Carlow.

(Please enclose a €1.90 stamped addressed envelope (12" x 9").

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County Wicklow:         Ms. Fiona Hartley, C.E.O.,

                                       Co. Wicklow Vocational Education Committee,

                                       P.O. Box 15,

                                       Church Street,

                                       Wicklow.

(Please enclose a €1.90 stamped addressed envelope (12" x 9").

GENERAL INFORMATION ON MAINTENANCE GRANTS

What Maintenance Grants are available for further and higher education?

• Higher Education Grants Scheme (HEG) - which generally applies to courses in the university sector.
• Third level Maintenance Grants Scheme for Trainees (TLT) Scheme - which generally applies to Level 6 or Level 7 courses in the Institutes of Technology
• Vocational Education Committee (VEC) Scholarship Scheme - which generally applies to Level 8 course where students have already pursued a Level 7 course. It also applies to certain courses in Northern Ireland.
• Maintenance grants' scheme for students attending Post-Leaving Certificate courses (PLC Scheme) - for students attending Post-Leaving Certificate (PLC) courses.

Who administers the grant?

• The HEG scheme is currently administered by the Local Authority in the county/city in whose administrative area you reside.
• The other three grant schemes are currently administered by the Grants' Office of the VEC in the county/city in whose administrative area you reside.

Where will I get an application form from?

• An application form, Notes Booklet and Schemes are available from the Grants' Office of your Local VEC/Local Authority.

 When is the Closing Date for receipt of completed applications?

• 29th August 2008

Who is eligible for a grant?

• You are eligible for a grant if you are pursuing an approved course in an approved institution and meet the other conditions in relation to age, residency, nationality, means and previous academic attainment.

 How do I apply for a grant?

• Contact the Grants' Office in your local VEC/Local Authority for an application form.
• This application form must be completed in full. Incomplete application forms will NOT be processed. Insert N/A on the pages which are not applicable to either you or your parents.
• The application form provides details of the supporting documentation required.
• The application form must be signed by both the applicant and his/her parents/guardians in cases...

- where the applicant is under 23 years of age

- where the applicant is over 23 years of age and residing with parents/guardians

What category of student am I?

• Candidate means the person in respect of whom a grant is being sought.
• Independent Mature Candidate means a candidate who is at least 23 years of age on the 1^st January of year of entry or re-entry to an approved course and who was not ordinarily resident with his/her parents from the 1^st October 2007.
• Dependent Mature Candidate means a candidate who is at least 23 years of age on the 1^st January of year of entry or re-entry to an approved course and who was ordinarily resident with his/her parents from the 1^st October 2007.
• Candidate other than a mature candidate means every other candidate who is under 23 years of age.

How does the means test work?

• When you apply for a grant, the income that is assessed must be at or below a specified amount ("the reckonable income" limit).
• Applicants are means tested on gross income earned in the previous tax year (i.e. the 2007 tax year)

 Reckonable income limits for 2007/2008 academic year (for illustrative purposes only)

(Figures are not currently available for the academic year 2008/2009)

In the 2008/2009 academic year where 2 or more children (or the candidate's parent) are pursuing a course of study listed below, the redeemable income limits may be increased by €4,815 where there are 2 such children, €9,630 where there are 3 such children and so on by increments of €4,815.

• Attending full-time third level education;
• Attending a recognised PLC course, student nurse training or student Garda training;
• Participating in a Fáilte Ireland (formerly CERT) course of at least one year's duration;
• Attending a full-time Teagasc course in an Agricultural College;
• Attending a recognised full-time further education course, of at least one year's duration in Northern Ireland.

 What is the difference between the Adjacent and Non-Adjacent rate of grant?

• Adjacent Rate of grant applies where a student's normal residence is less than 15 miles from the college
• Non-Adjacent Rate of grant applies where a student's normal residence is more than 15 miles from the college.

 Maintenance Grant Awards 2007/2008 (for illustrative purposes only)

(Figures are not currently available for the academic year 2007/2008)

What is the Special Rate of Maintenance Grant ("Top-Up Grant")

• Grant-holders who satisfy certain conditions may be eligible for what is known as a "top-up-grant"; an amount additional to the ordinary grant.
• The reckonable income limit for the "top-up-grant" for the 2006/2007 academic year is €16,748, all or part of which must be a specified Social Welfare or analogous payment.

 Special Rate of Maintenance Grant ("Top-up Grant") (for illustrative purposes only)

(Figures are not currently available for the academic year 2008/2009)

What documentary evidence is required?

• Supporting documentation required is listed on the application form in each section.
• Supporting documentation in relation to income must include all types of income earned in the 2007 tax year.
• Additional documentation may be requested - (please see ffie checklist on the back of the application form).

 PAYE Income

• 2007 P60 from your employer or employers
• 2007 P21/Balancing Statement (available from Revenue by contacting your local tax office or requesting online at www.revenue.ie)
• P45 if you have left employment during 2006.

 Income from self-employment including Farming

• A full set of accounts for all businesses for the year ending between 1^st January 2007 and 31^st December 2007. The accounts extracts pages from your return of income do not satisfy this accounts requirement.
• Adjusted Profit computation 2007.
• Original Notice of Assessment 2007 (available from Revenue Commissioners).
• If exempt from filing tax returns a current letter for 2007 is required (available from Revenue).

 Rent and other income from land and property

• Rent and other income from land and property will require the same documentation as for income from self-employment including farming.

Income from all Social Welfare and Health Service Executive (HSE) payments

A statement from the relevant Department of Social and Family Affairs or the HSE for 2007, confirming:

• Type of payment (e.g. Jobseekers Allowance etc.).
• Amount received weekly
• Total amount received in 2007
• Does the payment include full Qualified Adult Allowance (QAA) and/or full Child Dependent Increase (GDI)
• Date on which this payment commenced, if prior to 1^st January 2007.

 Note: A form to be completed by the relevant Department of Social and Family Affairs or HSE requesting the above information, is available from your VEC/Local Authority office.

Income from Pensions (other than Social Welfare pensions) including lump sum on retirement

• P60 2007
• P21 - Balancing Statement from Revenue 2006. Please contact your local office or request online at www.revenue.ie
• If you retired/were made redundant during the tax year 2007, the following must be submitted:

- Date employment ceased

- Gross amount of lump sum

- Number of years in that employment

- Gross annual pension (retirement only)

Gross Income from Deposit Accounts, Investments, Special Savings Incentive Accounts (SSIA's)

• The interest element of deposit accounts is regarded as reckonable income.
• Interest certificates for the 2007 tax year must be supplied.
• SSIA's - A statement outlining the financial institution's interest and the Government's contribution earned in the 2007 tax year must be submitted.
• Details of all investments including saving certificates, life assurance, bonds etc., where the interest received is accumulated and paid out as a lump sum at the end of the investment; must be included.

ADVICE

• Prepare in advance and gather as much documentation as possible from the relevant bodies. Ensure the documentation is in respect of the correct year - 2007 tax year
• Submit application form ON TIME and BEFORE CLOSING DATE.
• Submit COMPLETED APPLICATION FORMS ONLY.
• Make sure the application form is signed.
• If you need help in completing the application form contact the Grants' Office in your local VEC/Local Authority as the staff working in these offices will be best able to advise you.

County Kildare VEC, Aras Chill Dara, Devoy Park, Naas, Co. Kildare
Tel.: 045-988000        Fax: 045-879916
Email: cooffice@kildarevec.ie  Web: www.kildarevec.ie
Coiste Ghairm Oideachais Chontae Chill Dara