Michael Ring
Question:549 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science if a person (details supplied) in County Mayo can be assessed for a third level grant as an independent mature student. [20296/03]
Written Answers. - Higher Education Grants.
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 his or her 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 his or her entry to an approved course. Independent mature students are assessed without reference to either their parents' income or address.
My Department understands that the student in question has been ordinarily resident at home with his parents. Accordingly, he is ineligible under the terms of the higher education grant scheme to be assessed as an independent mature candidate. He is however eligible to be assessed as a mature candidate dependent on parents. Other than in the case of independent mature students, candidates are assessed with reference to their parents income and address.