Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 16 Oct 2001

Vol. 542 No. 2

Written Answers. - Higher Education Grants.

Austin Deasy

Question:

509 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason recipients of social welfare cannot be assessed on their own income for third level grant purposes despite living independently of their parents; if he will ensure that such an anomaly is removed; and if he will examine the case of a person (details supplied) in County Waterford regarding this matter. [23713/01]

Austin Deasy

Question:

576 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason recipients of social welfare benefits cannot be assessed on their own income for third level grant purposes despite living independently of their parents; if he will ensure that this anomaly is removed; and if he will examine the case of a person (details supplied) in County Waterford. [24357/01]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 509 and 576 together.

The schemes of student support define a mature candidate as one who is at least 23 years of age on 1 of January of the year of entry to an approved course. Under the terms of the 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 1 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.

When assessing the means of students, other than independent mature students, 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 categorised as an independent mature student.

With regard to the student referred to by the Deputy in his first question, my Department understands from County Waterford VEC, the body charged with administering the scheme in this case, that the student was not 23 years of age on 1 January of the year she entered her course. She must, therefore, be assessed with reference to her parents' income. County Waterford VEC has further confirmed that the student in question was awarded 50% of the adjacent rate of grant in the academic year 2000-01. In the event that there is no change in circumstances, including reckonable income, and that she continues to meet the other conditions of the scheme, she will continue to receive this rate of grant for 2001-02.

In relation to the student referred to by the Deputy in his second question, my Department understands that this student has recently submitted an application to County Waterford VEC under the maintenance grants scheme for students attending post-leaving certificate courses 2001. It is further understood that he was subsequently requested by the VEC to submit additional details relating to his application. When his application has been processed, the VEC will contact him directly with regard to his eligibility for grant assistance under the scheme.