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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 15 Dec 1981

Vol. 331 No. 10

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Higher Educational Grants.

19.

asked the Minister for Education why income from certified audited accounts in lieu of valuation is not accepted as income for means tests in respect of higher education grants.

20.

asked the Minister for Education if he will accept when the means of farmers are being examined to determine their child or children's eligibility for university or higher education grants and where the land valuation exceeds the statutory limit, but audited accounts are well below tha statutory income limit for eligibility, the latter figure rather than the land valuation.

21.

asked the Minister for Education if he is aware that many farmers' children would qualify for higher education grants if their parents were assessed on the audited accounts of their farm income and not on the PLV of the farm; and if he will now make the necessary change to accommodate them.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 19, 20 and 21 together.

The question of allowing farm accounts, as accepted by the Revenue Commissioners, instead of rateable valuation for the purpose of the means test under the 1981 Higher Education Grants Scheme was considered earlier this year, but it was decided against.

I have full sympathy with the spirit of the Deputies' questions and have asked some time ago for a thorough investigation of methods whereby farm accounts, as accepted by the Revenue Commissioners, could also be accepted for determining income eligibility for higher education grant purposes.

Deputies will be aware that the Government, on foot of a commitment in the Programme for Government 1981-1986, have already made substantial upwards adjustments in the valuation thresholds for means test purposes in this regard.

The details of those improvements are as follows:

(i) parents whose family income derives from a holding of rateable valuation not exceeding £64 — as compared with £35 previously — are for purposes of the means test eligible for maximum maintenance and lecture fee benefits while, for a lower rate of grant aid, the maximum rateable valuation has been raised from £50 to £96;

(ii) fees grants may be paid in the case of rateable valuation up to a maximum of £112, while the previous maximum was £50.

In addition to the investigation regarding farm accounts, I am also reviewing all aspects of the Higher Education Grants Scheme with a view to seeing whether other improvements can be effected. It is intended that such changes as may be possible will be made in time to come into operation for the 1982 scheme.

In view of the fact that the Minister said that audited accounts are accepted by the Revenue Commissioners in assessing the gross or net income of any individual who may be self-employed, would the Minister accept that the certified audited accounts of farmers should be accepted as an assessment of means for the purposes of third level education grants?

I have the utmost sympathy for the general tenor of the Deputhy's question and the objective he is endeavouring to achieve. There is a particular difficulty in relation to farm accounts as agreed by the Revenue Commissioners in so far as normally they are not agreed for several years after the accounting year. Consequently there is a difficulty in relating them to the year of application for higher education grant purposes. I am examining the situation to ascertain whether some method could be devised which would relate the accounts procedure more to the year of application. If I can in any way bring about a situation where acceptable farm accounts as accepted by the Revenue Commissioners can be related to the year in which the application for the grant is made, I would hope to introduce it in the 1982 scheme.

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