Vol. 542 No. 5
462 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Education and Science the criteria which will be used in 2002 for the qualification for third level grants; when he will be issuing a directive to the local authorities and VECs on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25076/01]
In relation to the income thresholds prescribed under the student maintenance grant schemes, the practice in recent years has been to increase the reckonable income limits in line with movements in the average industrial wage in the previous year. Last June, in line with this policy, I approved an increase of 6.5% in the reckonable income limits for the 2001-2002 academic year. This exceeded the increase in the average industrial wage for the reference period, March 1999 to March 2000, which was 5.9%. I also increased by 6.5% the allowance by which the income limits may be increased in respect of other family members pursuing a course of study.
For the purpose of assessing reckonable income under the schemes, a candidate's reckonable income is defined as all income for the previous tax year, with certain specified social welfare and health board payments being disregarded.
For the 2002-03 academic year, reckonable income will be based on the short transitional tax year running from 6 April 2001 to 31 December 2001. In general, for revenue purposes, all allowances, credits, bands, exemption limits and other annual amounts will be adjusted, where relevant, from their full year value to take account of the short tax year. Similarly, it is intended that the reckonable income thresholds, to be prescribed in my Department's schemes of student support for 2002, will be adjusted accordingly. The schemes of student support, with prescribed reckonable income limits, are normally issued in May-June of each year and it is intended that the issue of the 2002 schemes will adhere to this practice.
