Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 5 Nov 1991

Vol. 412 No. 1

Written Answers. - Higher Education Grant Eligibility.

Eric J. Byrne

Question:

137 Mr. Byrne asked the Minister for Education the reason, when assessing the income of a family (details supplied) in Dublin 11 for higher education grant purposes, a figure of £13,000 depreciation was added as income; if she will outline the reason (1) a directive from her Department forbids depreciation to be considered as a deductible expense and (2) vital equipment as in this case a coach, can be deemed income, as without it the business would not exist; and if she will now agree to allow payment of this grant.

Minister for Education (Mrs. O'Rourke)

For a candidate to be eligible for the award of a higher education grant, the reckonable income of the candidate and of the candidate's parents or guardians must satisfy the income requirements set out in the relevant scheme.

It is understood from Dublin Corporation, the body statutorily entrusted with administration of the scheme in this case, the person in question was deemed ineligible for a grant on the basis of income and the terms of the approved 1991 scheme.

As stated in their recently published programme, the Government are committed to bringing forward proposals for the reform of the higher education grant scheme to ensure complete equity and transparency in its operation, taking into account the question of criteria for the inclusion of wealth-assets in determining income of eligibility for all State supported schemes where means is a condition of eligibility.