Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 February 2013
136. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will ensure that eligibility for third level grants will continue to be calculated on the basis of earned income, that the value of assets used to earn this income is not made part of this assessment and that children of farming families are not prevented from progressing to third level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9254/13]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that a dedicated capital assets test implementation group was established to bring forward detailed implementation proposals on new means testing arrangements for student grants, to include the value of assets. I have received a draft report from the implementation group. This is currently under consideration and I will be consulting further with my cabinet colleagues in the matter in due course. The intention behind this approach is to ensure that, at a time of reduced resources, the Government targets valuable schemes, such as the student grant scheme, at those who need them most. Equally, it is to ensure that those who can afford to pay to go to higher education should do so. Under any new means testing arrangement, families from all sectors whose income and assets fall below a certain level, will continue to be eligible for third level grants for their children.
