asked the Minister for Education if he is prepared to change the grant scheme whereby those who do not qualify for a grant in the first year but qualify in later years are deprived of the grant for all years because they did not qualify in the first year.
Written Answers. - Grant Scheme Qualification.
627.
Under the provisions of the higher education grants scheme the means test regulations applicable in the case of a candidate seeking a grant are those laid down in the higher education grants scheme for the year the candidate qualified academically for a grant by virtue of successes in the leaving certificate examination. Where a candidate who is following an approved course of studies did not qualify for a grant solely on the grounds of means in his first year, a grant may be awarded if evidence is produced that, due to a change in family circumstances, the means regulations of the relevant scheme would now be fulfilled in his/her case. Such grant would be awarded with effect from the beginning of the college term immediately following the occurrence which resulted in the change in family circumstances.