Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 February 2016
482. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Education and Skills to examine the rules for assessment of income for self-employed persons to allow for current-year income to be considered similar to the rates for PAYE workers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4291/16]
View answerAll applications for a maintenance grant are means tested based on the reckonable income for the previous tax year.
Article 32 of the Student Grant Scheme allows for the review of eligibility during the academic year, if there is a permanent change in circumstance, relating to a number of events including a drop in reckonable income which is likely to obtain for the duration of the approved course or for the foreseeable future.
Any candidate, whether employed or self employed, who experiences a reduction in reckonable income of a permanent nature, may apply to have their eligibility reviewed under the change in circumstances clause. Where a candidate can provide satisfactory documentation to confirm that the reduction in income is permanent, their grant eligibility would be based on their revised (i.e. current) income rather than on their income for the previous tax year.
