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CLAUSE 1: Definitions

In this scheme:

1.1 "approved course" means -

  1. a full-time undergraduate course of not less than two year’s duration or a full-time postgraduate course of not less than one year duration pursued in one of the approved institutions listed in Appendix I(A) and I(B); 
  2. a full-time undergraduate course of not less than two year’s duration pursued in a university or third-level institution which is maintained or assisted by recurrent grants from public funds in another E.U. Member State, with the exception of the following:
    1. Courses in Colleges of Further and Higher Education (other than courses which are at Higher National Diploma level or higher);  
    2. Courses provided in a college which are offered in private commercial third level colleges in the State, and which are validated by that college;
    3. Courses in colleges akin to private commercial colleges in Ireland;
    4. a full-time undergraduate course of a minimum duration of one year in one of the approved institutions listed in Appendix I(A) which represents progression from a FETAC Level 5 (formerly known as FETAC (NCVA) Level 2 qualification) qualification and which leads to the award of a qualification of third level standard following a terminal examination;
       and;
    5. a full-time undergraduate course of a minimum duration of one year in one of the approved institutions listed in Appendix I(A) which represents progression from a Level 7 (Ordinary Bachelor Degree or National Diploma) course to an “add-on” Level 8 (Honours Bachelor Degree) course..

    "candidate" means the person in respect of whom a grant is being sought;

    “candidate other than a mature candidate" means every candidate, other than a mature candidate, who is eligible to be considered under this scheme;;

    "mature candidate" means a candidate who is at least 23 years of age on the 1st of January  of  the year of entry or re-entry to an approved course;

    "mature candidate dependent on parents" means a mature candidate who was ordinarily resident with his/her parents from 1 October, 2008;

    "independent mature candidate" means a mature candidate who was not ordinarily resident with his/her parents from 1 October, 2008;

    "dependent children" means children, including foster children, of a candidate's parents or guardians or children of an independent mature candidate, as the case may require, who, on 1 October 2008, were:

      under 16 years of age, or
    1. 16 years of age or over and
      • are attending a full-time course of study at an educational institution and are dependent on their parents, or
      • are medically certified as permanently unfit for work;

    "lecture fee" means the amount invoiced by an institution up to such limit as is approved by the Minister for Education and Science;

    "Local Authority" means the County Council or City Council named in the subtitle of this scheme;

    "normal residence" means the permanent or ordinary address of the candidate's parents or guardians from 1 October, 2008.   In the case of an independent mature candidate, his/her normal residence means the permanent or ordinary address of the independent mature candidate from 1 October 2008.

    “reckonable income" means-

    1. All amounts* received or receivable by an individual without reference to his/her residence or domicile, from both Irish and foreign sources, which are liable to Irish Income Tax, Irish Capital Gains Tax or Irish Capital Acquisitions Tax, or which would be so liable but for exemptions and relief’s contained in Irish legislation, and
    2. Corresponding amounts received or receivable by individuals resident in another E.U. Member State which are liable to Income Tax, Capital Gains Tax, Inheritance or Gift Taxes of that State, or which would be so liable but for exemptions and relief’s contained in the legislation of that State.  

    *  The following Social Welfare and Health Service Executive Payments should be excluded in the calculation of reckonable income:

    • Child Benefit; 
    • Family Income Supplement; 
    • Disability Allowance (where paid to the candidate); 
    • Blind Pension (where paid to the candidate);
    • One Parent Family Payments (Means Tested);
    • Guardian’s Payment (Previously known as Orphan's Pensions);
    • Back to Education Allowance (Second Level and Third Level Option); 
    • Foster Care Allowance;
    • Domiciliary Care Allowance and
    • Carer’s Allowance;

    Note: The specific calculations of the amount of reckonable income under the various headings are contained in the application form and the accompanying notes.

    "re-entering" means entering as a mature candidate following a break of at least one year and having previously attended a course approved for the purposes of either the Higher Education Grants Scheme or the VEC Scholarship Scheme

    "spouse" means each person of a married couple who are living together, or a man and woman who are not married to each other but are cohabiting as husband and wife.

    “student services charge” means the charge payable by students pursuing an approved course to which the Free Fees Initiative applies in an approved university or third-level institution in Ireland. This charge relates to examination fees, registration and student services.

    “field trip” means a trip which is compulsory and an integral part of an approved course, which is for fact finding or research purposes, and without which the student cannot graduate or progress to the next year of the course.



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