Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 April 2014
228. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to change the eligibility criteria for higher education grants to ensure that they are reflective of families' large expenses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16656/14]
View answerUnder the terms of the student grant scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students who meet the prescribed conditions of funding including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means. The assessment of means under my Department's student grant scheme is based on gross income from all sources. Therefore, all income is assessed from the same starting point, eliminating any distortion which might arise from different spending decisions. The means test arrangements of the student grant scheme are applied nationally. In the case of both employed and self-employed applicants, gross income is assessed with certain specified social welfare and health service executive payments excluded.
The eligibility of an applicant, or the level of the grant awarded, may be re-assessed by SUSI in the event of a change of circumstances in the academic year. The applicant should in the first instance contact the relevant awarding body and notify them of the change in circumstances. I have no plans at present to depart from the above practice in respect of the determination of income. In addition, the Student Assistance Fund will continue to be made available through the access offices of third-level institutions to assist students in exceptional financial need. The access offices themselves also provide support and advice to students to enable them to continue with their studies.
