Vol. 445 No. 6
479 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Education the number of students who received full maintenance and full fees, part maintenance and full fees, full fees only and part fees only under the higher education grant scheme for each of the years 91/92, 92/93, and 93/94. [360/94]
The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available in the detail requested. The total number of students in receipt of higher education grants for the years 1991-92, 1992-93 and 1993-94 was 15,211, 18,664 and 21,696 respectively. All these students received full or part fees at least. Under the higher education grants scheme for the 1992-93 academic year, the most recent year for which the breakdown of figures is available, a total of 16,924 students were in receipt of full fees plus full or part maintenance while 1,740 were in receipt of full or part fees.
480 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Education the estimated cost to her Department of increasing the reckonable income limits for higher education grants by £1,000, £2,000, £3,000 and £4,000; and the estimated additional number of students who would benefit in each case. [361/94]
Any reliable estimate of the costs and numbers sought by the Deputy requires very detailed information and data not all of which are readily available in my Department. In the absence of the complete data it is very tentatively estimated that the extra costs at the end of a degree cycle of increasing the reckonable income limits by £1,000, £2,000, £3,000 and £4,000 would be approximately £6 million, £12 million, £17 million and £23 million. The additional student numbers corresponding to the above would be 3,000, 6,000, 8,500 and 11,500 respectively.
481 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Education the possibility of having higher education grants assessed on net income; the estimated cost to her Department of this; and the estimated number of additional students who would benefit. [362/94]
I have no plans to base eligibility for third level grants on net income. Net income is the result of personal financial decisions. Two taxpayers with the same gross income can, therefore, have markedly different net income if, for instance, one decided to rent a house and the other decides to take on a mortgage to buy a house. To avoid discrimination on the basis of what are personal financial decisions gross income will continue to be the basis on which the assessment of eligibility for third level grants will be made.
482 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Education if she has received representations from students' unions requesting her to amend the higher education grants scheme, to ensure that independent mature students living away from home may qualify for the non-adjacent level of maintenance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [363/94]
My Department has received a number of representations from students' unions and individuals concerning the level of maintenance paid to independent mature students living away from home. There are four common rates of maintenance grant payable to all categories of higher education grant holders, whether dependent mature, independent mature or otherwise viz. (i) full maintenance at the non-adjacent rate, (ii) full maintenance at the adjacent rate, (iii) part maintenance at the non adjacent rate, (iv) part maintenance at the adjacent rate.
There is no distinction between the rates of maintenance grants payable to mature students and other students who are holders of higher education grants. Whether a grant holder is eligible for full maintenance or part maintenance is determined by the means assessment operated in accordance with the higher education grants scheme.
