Under the terms of Higher Education Grants Scheme administered by the Local Authorities on behalf of my Department, the position is that, generally speaking, students who are entering approved courses for the first time are eligible for grants where they satisfy the relevant conditions as to age, residence, means, nationality and previous academic attainment.
The candidate's reckonable income for the purposes of the means test is his/her gross income from all sources and the gross income of his/her parents or guardians, where applicable, with certain specified Social Welfare and Health Board Payments being exempt. Grant assistance may not be awarded in any case where the reckonable income exceeds the prescribed income limits for the award of a grant.
It is understood from Kildare County Council, the assessing authority in this case, that the candidates referred to by the Deputy were not eligible for the maintenance grant for the 2005/06 academic year as the reckonable income exceed the limit for the 2004 tax year as set out in the grant scheme. Kildare County Council have advised that they have not received a written appeal from the students referred to by the Deputy in regard to eligibility for grant assistance for the 2005/06 academic year.
Kildare County Council have also advised that grant assistance has been approved for the 2006/07 academic year as the reckonable income for the 2005 tax year is below the prescribed limits.