Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 November 2023
753. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection whether the cap of a €20,000-per-annum scholarship income disregard for PhD students who are in receipt of disability allowance will be raised in light of the increase to PhD stipends announced by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48210/23]
View answerDisability Allowance is a means tested social assistance scheme, which is also subject to a medical assessment and habitual residency requirement. My Department seeks to support persons in receipt of Disability Allowance to pursue educational or training opportunities and as a result, a number of disregards are in place.
I introduced a PhD disregard effective from 2021, for persons in receipt of Disability Allowance and from 2022 for persons in receipt of Blind Pension who have been granted a bursary, stipend or scholarship towards completing a PhD. An annual disregard of €20,000 was introduced with the disregard available for a maximum of four years.
I've asked my officials to examine the issue raised by the Deputy.
