Vol. 404 No. 9
53 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Education if she will consider amending the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Act, 1968, to allow single parents, in receipt of the line parents allowance, to qualify for a higher education grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
In establishing the income eligibility of a single parent for a grant under the current higher education grants scheme a local authority would take the candidate's lone parents' allowance into account in addition to the reckonable income for his/her parents or guardians.
The Deputy will be aware of the proposal in the Programme for Economic and Social Progress to re-examine the higher education grants scheme in a number of aspects, including the position of mature students. The particular circumstances of single parents in receipt of single parent allowances will also be taken into account.
