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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 13 Oct 1993

Vol. 434 No. 5

Written Answers. - Higher Education Grants.

Avril Doyle

Question:

97 Mrs. Doyle asked the Minister for Education the reason the income eligibility criteria for third level students in their second or subsequent year of study is based on that pertaining in the year of their leaving certificate; her views on whether it costs as much to keep a second or third year student at third level college as it does a first year student; and the estimated cost to change the income eligibility criteria for all student grants to that applying to current first years.

The position is that since 1992, for higher education grants purposes, the income eligibility of students entering third level education is assessed by reference to reckonable income and the income limits of the year of entry rather than the income limits of the year the student sat the leaving certificate examination as is the case for students who entered third level in 1991 or earlier.

Where it is necessary to reassess the income eligibility of such students in any subsequent year this is done on a "current income/current income limits" basis.

The third level student support system is currently under review and I am awaiting the report of an expert advisory group whose remit includes the issue of appropriate criteria for means testing.

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