Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 13 Feb 1991

Vol. 405 No. 1

Written Answers. - Third Level Education Grants.

Bernard Allen

Question:

93 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Education if she will intervene in a stalemate whereby, in the processing of third level education grants, Cork County Council are insisting on receiving written certificates from the Inspector of Taxes regarding stock relief claims and the tax office in Cork district will not issue any certificates in respect of stock relief, in view of the delays being caused in the payment of grants.

Minister for Education (Mrs. O'Rourke)

Each local authority is required to satisfy itself that all reliefs and allowances claimed by an applicant as a deduction from reckonable income for the purpose of determining a candidate's eligibility to receive financial assistance under the higher education grants scheme are valid claims.

Stock relief allowed to farmers by the Revenue Commissioners is an allowable deduction from income for grants purposes.

It is understood from Cork County Council, the body statutorily entrusted with administration of the scheme in this instance, that it has deferred making a decision regarding the eligibility of a small number of applicants who have been unable to provide documentary evidence to corroborate their claim to stock relief.

The provision of supporting documentary evidence is first a matter for the individual applicant claiming the relief and secondly for the appropriate tax authorities in Cork. However, in the circumstances, I have asked my Department to contact the relevant authorities to see what action they can take to avoid further delay.