Vol. 570 No. 2
253 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science his proposals to treat single parents in receipt of one parent family allowance and living in their own accommodation who are under 23 years of age as mature students in regard to eligibility for third level maintenance grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18281/03]
The higher education grant schemes operate under the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts, 1968 to 1992. Under the terms of these Acts a mature student is defined as a person of not less than 23 years of age on 1 January of the year of entry to their third level course. Under the terms of the higher education grants 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 the October preceding their entry to an approved course. Independent mature students are assessed without reference to either their parents' income or address.
Students who are not 23 years of age on 1 January of the year of entry to third level education cannot be assessed as mature students. When assessing the means of students other than mature students, the Acts specify that 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 a mature student. The other student support schemes have similar provisions on the means assessment of students. A reduction in the age threshold defining mature student status under my Department's maintenance grants schemes would have to be considered in the light of available financial resources and other competing demands in the education sector. I am aware of the fact that the existing arrangements may cause difficulties in individual circumstances and I have asked my Department to examine the issues involved in the light of representations received in the matter.
