Vol. 474 No. 6
167 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Education if she will review an application for a higher education grant from Offaly County Council by persons (details supplied) in County Offaly having regard to the wages and conditions of the parents of the applicants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3560/97]
Under the terms of the higher education grants scheme, a candidate's reckonable income for the purposes of the award of a grant is the candidate's gross income from all sources and that of her or his parents or guardians where applicable.
I understand from Offaly County Council, the body statutorily entrusted with the administration of the higher education grants scheme, that while the reckonable income in this case exceeds the income limit for the payment of a full maintenance grant, the two students in question are in receipt of part maintenance grants at the non-adjacent rate. The local authority can re-assess the level of the grant awarded where there is a change of circumstances in the candidate's reckonable income, which is likely to be permanent. Accordingly, if there has been a change in the reckonable income in this case, the application for a re-assessment should be made to Offaly County Council.
