Vol. 576 No. 1
200 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason a person (details supplied) in County Carlow is not considered as an independent mature student; if the evidence submitted, utility bills, etc. will be considered in assessing the case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29166/03]
The higher education grant schemes operate under the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts 1968 to 1992. They define a mature student as follows:
Of not less than 23 years of age, or such other age as may stand specified for the time being in regulations made by the Minister with the consent of the Minister for Finance, who have secured places in approved institutions and have reached that age on the 1st day of January, or such other date as may be prescribed from time to time by the Minister with the consent of the Minister for Finance, in the year of entry to such institutions.
The Acts further provide, inter alia, for the making of grants to mature students whose means and those of their parents, where the mature students are dependent on their parents do not exceed prescribed limits.
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 candidate who was not ordinarily resident with his or her parents from 1 October preceding their entry on an approved course. Independent mature students are assessed without reference to either their parents' income or address.
To date sufficient evidence to establish that the candidate, in this case, is living independently of his parents has not been supplied to the awarding body concerned. It is not open to me, or my Department, to depart from the terms of the maintenance grant schemes in individual cases.
Questions Nos. 201 and 202 answered with Question No. 177.
