Vol. 551 No. 4
261 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will change the qualifying criteria for the top-up of maintenance grant scheme to include those parents who are working on a FÁS scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10869/02]
The report of the action group on access to third-level education makes detailed recommendations concerning the introduction of special rates of maintenance grants for disadvantaged students, usually referred to as top-up grants. The group considered that the target group of those most in need could best be defined in terms of the child dependants of people receiving long-term welfare payments, in respect of whom continued child dependant allowance is being paid, by virtue of their being in full-time education – that is, child dependants in the age group 18 to 22. The child dependants of people on designated programmes were also included in the target group.
Accordingly, in cases where a grant holder is assessed on the income of parents or guardians FÁS training programmes or CE schemes undertaken by the parent or guardian are designated programmes for purpose of establishing eligibility on the part of the grant holder for the special rate of maintenance grant. The parent or guardian must demonstrate that he/she had an entitlement to the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs' child dependent allowance, or an equivalent payment, in respect of the grant holder prior to progressing on to the programme.
