Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 June 2013
219. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the Student Universal Support Ireland system of application for student grants takes into account the accommodation and living expenses of a student's parent/spouse who has had to go abroad to work (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27135/13]
View answerStudent grant applications are means tested on gross income from all sources earned inside and outside the State within a specified reference period. The assessment of income from the same starting point is deemed to be fair and reasonable because this approach eliminates any distortion which might arise from different spending arrangements in different households. In the interest of equity, I have no plans to change this procedure.
