Michael Ring
Question:622 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science if a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be approved for a third level maintenance grant considering the particular circumstances of the case. [21529/99]
Written Answers. - Higher Education Grants.
Under the terms of the third level student support schemes, the reckonable income for the purposes of the award of a grant is gross income from all sources of the candidate and his-her parents or guardians, where applicable, with certain deductions for specified social welfare and health board payments. This income would include, as in this case, interest received on deposit accounts.
The Vocational Education Committees administer the maintenance grants scheme for trainees attending European Social Fund-aided third level courses, which is the relevant scheme in this case. Inquiries have been made and it is understood from County Mayo VEC that the reckonable income in this case exceeds the reckonable income limit for the award of a full maintenance grant. However, the candidate is eligible for a part maintenance grant, at the non-adjacent rate, in respect of his studies at the Cork Institute of Technology. It is further understood that the reckonable income would have exceeded the income limit for the award of a full maintenance grant even if there had been no income from interest on savings.