asked the Minister for Education if she will amend the regulations to exclude all social welfare payments from assessment for grant aid for third-level education for the dependent children as at present only children's allowances are excluded.
Written Answers. - Education Grants.
816.
The income to be reckoned for the purpose of the means test in the higher education grants scheme and the Vocational Education Committees Scholarships Scheme is the total income of the candidate and his-her parents excluding only children's allowances under the Social Welfare Acts, superannuation contributions and the holidays earnings, if any, of the candidate. I do not propose to amend the scheme to allow social welfare payments, other than children's allowances, to be deducted from the reckonable income for the purpose of determining eligibility for grants-scholarships.
817.
asked the Minister for Education the reason an island student (details supplied) in County Donegal is not in receipt of the full grant while attending Holy Cross College, Falcarragh, County Donegal.
The pupil concerned is not in receipt of the full maintenance grant because the family income is in excess of the amount specified for eligibility for payment of the full grant.