Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 September 2004
377 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has plans to increase the income eligibility limits for the third level maintenance grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21528/04]
View answerThe practice in recent years has been to increase the reckonable income limits for the maintenance grant schemes in line with the increase in the average industrial wage in the previous year. The top income limit was increased from €36,897 to €40,000 as part of the €42 million package announced in May 2003. This year, in line with normal practice, I approved an increase of 5.9% in the reckonable income limits to be applied in respect of the 2004-05 academic year. In accordance with the commitment in the programme for Government to "increase the eligibility thresholds for maintenance grants for families with a number of students attending qualifying courses at the same time", I also increased by 5.9% the allowance by which the income limits may be increased in respect of other family members pursuing an approved course of study.
The increase for the 2004-05 academic year brings the top income limit to €42,360, where there are less than four dependent children in a family. Higher income thresholds apply in cases where there are four or more dependent children in the family. I have set out below full details of the reckonable income limits for the 2004 schemes.
In relation to the special rate of maintenance grant, known as the "top-up" grant, in line with increases in the relevant social welfare payments, I increased the annual income threshold by 6.8% to €14,693, ensuring that at least 10,000 students will benefit.
I have no plans to depart, in the foreseeable future, from the current practice in relation to annual increases in the reckonable income limits under my Department's student maintenance grant schemes.
|
(for the period 1st January, 2003 to 31st December 2003 (the tax year 2003) |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Number of Dependent Children |
Full Maintenance and Full Fees |
Part Maintenance (75%) and Full Fees |
Part Maintenance (50%) and Full Fees |
Part Maintenance (25%) and Full Fees |
Part Fees (50%) only* |
|
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
|
|
Less than 4 |
33,890 |
36,005 |
38,125 |
40,240 |
42,360 |
|
4-7 |
37,240 |
39,570 |
41,895 |
44,225 |
46,550 |
|
8 or more |
40,435 |
42,960 |
45,485 |
48,010 |
50,535 |
*Full Student Service Charge is paid where income is at or below this level.
† In the 2004/2005 academic year where 2 or more children (or the candidate's parent) are pursuing a course of study listed below the reckonable income limits may be increased by €4,100 where there are 2 such children, €8,200 where there are 3 such children and so on, by increments of €4,100.
(i) attending full-time third level education
(ii) attending a recognised PLC course, student nurse training or student Garda training
(iii) participating in a CERT course of at least one years duration
(iv) attending a full time Teagasc course in an agricultural college
(v) attending a recognised full-time further education course, of at least one year's duration, in Northern Ireland.
