Jack Wall
Question:300 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science if the grant application will be investigated for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23013/98]
Written Answers. - Higher Education Grants.
The higher education grant schemes operate under the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts, 1968 to 1992. Under the terms of these Acts, a mature student is defined as a person of not less than 23 years of age on 1 January of the year of entry to their third level course. Under the terms of the higher education grants schemes, mature students are categorised as either independent mature students or mature students dependent on parents. An independent mature student is defined to mean a mature student who was not ordinarily resident at home with his or her parents from the October preceding their entry to an approved course. Independent mature students are deemed to be self-supporting and are assessed without reference to either their parents' income or address.
As the student in question was not 23 on 1 January of the year of entry to third level education he cannot be assessed as a mature student. When assessing the means of students other than mature students, the Acts specify that the students' means and those of their parents or guardians must be below a prescribed limit. This provision requires that parental income be taken into account irrespective of the individual circumstances in any case where the student is not a mature student. I understand that County Kildare VEC is awaiting further information to assess this student's application.