Breeda Moynihan-Cronin
Ceist:216 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Education and Science his plans to increase the income eligibility limits for the third level maintenance grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18188/02]
Adjournment Debate. - Higher Education Grants.
It has been my Department's approach in recent years, to increase the reckonable income limits under the maintenance grant schemes, in accordance with movements in the average industrial wage in the previous year. This year, I approved an increase of 7% in the reckonable income limits for the 2002-03 academic year. This exceeded the increase in the average industrial wage for the period March 2000 to March 2001, which was 6.7%.
I also approved a significant increase of 15% in the allowance by which the income thresholds may be increased for each dependant, where two or more children are in further or higher education. This is in line with the commitment in the June 2002 programme for Government.
The income eligibility limits and maintenance grant levels will be considered in the context of the review of student support provisions, aimed at ensuring that the benefits of the substantial investment being made are maximised, which my Department is carrying out.