Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 December 2018
204. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to increase the income levels for eligibility for the SUSI grant in line with tax band and tax credit increases announced in budget 2019; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the increase in tax bands and credits now puts many persons outside the bracket of eligibility for a SUSI grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50374/18]
View answerUnder the terms of the student grant scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students who meet the prescribed conditions of funding including those which relate to nationality, residency, approved course, previous academic attainment and means.
The Student Grant Scheme provides for higher income thresholds for larger families. In addition to this, further increases in the income thresholds are provided for where additional family members are attending further and higher education at the same time.
The lowest income threshold of €23,500 is set for the special rate of maintenance grant. This income threshold has increased in line with increases in the Old Age Pension for the 2017 & 2018 schemes and will be reviewed again for the 2019 scheme. The highest income threshold, for a family of less than 4 dependent children, is currently set at €54,240. This will qualify a student for 50% of the student contribution.
Changes to the income thresholds are announced as part of the budget process. No further changes to the thresholds were included in Budget 2019.
