Vol. 447 No. 11
166 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Education her Department's guidelines for higher education grants in relation to mature students; and if she will have arrangements made to examine the application of a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [1275/95]
A mature student is deemed to be a student who is at least 23 years of age on 1 January of the year of entry or re-entry to an approved course. A mature candidate can be an independent mature candidate or a mature candidate dependent on parents.
An independent mature candidate is deemed to be a mature candidate who was not resident at home with his/her parents on 1 October of the year prior to entry or re-entry to an approved course. The reckonable income which is assessed for means test purposes in the case of an independent mature candidate is that of the candidate and her/his spouse.
A mature candidate dependent on parents is deemed to be a mature candidate who was resident at home with her/his parents on 1 October of the year prior to entry to re-entry to an approved course. The reckonable income which is assessed for means test purposes in the case of a mature candidate dependent on parents is that of the candidate and of the candidates's parents (or guardians). A student's status cannot change from a mature candidate dependent on parents to an independent mature candidate unless there is a break in studies of at least one year.
