Dick Spring
Question:488 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will approve an application by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry for a higher education grant. [22930/01]
Written Answers. - Higher Education Grants.
The student to whom the Deputy refers is in receipt of a higher education grant under the scheme administered on behalf of my Department by the local authorities. My Department understands that the student was assessed by Kerry County Council for the purpose of the special rates of maintenance grant payable to disadvantaged students, recently introduced by my Department. He was, however, found to be ineligible, as reckonable income did not include income from one of the social welfare payments or designated programmes, which must be held, in order to establish eligibility for a special rate of maintenance grant.
The eligibility requirements for the special rates of maintenance grant will be reviewed on an ongoing basis with a view to extending eligibility. A first step will be to assess the coverage and effectiveness of the implementation of the special rates in this first year of operation.
Question No. 489 answered with Question No. 157.