asked the Minister for Education if she will outline the exact provision in the Higher Education Grants Scheme, quoting the relevant section, which precludes positive income from one source being reduced by losses or running expenses from another source when computing grant eligibility; if the scheme explicitly excludes statements from the inspector of taxes on assessment for income tax for the relevant years; if, in certain cases these are not always accepted as evidence of reckonable income; and, if not, the reason.
Written Answers. - Higher Education Grants Scheme.
235.
Clause 2 (c) of the higher education grants scheme sets out the means provisions under which a candidate's eligibility for a grant is determined. In calculating the reckonable income which may be taken into account, positive income from one source may not be reduced by losses or running expenses from another source. While this limitation is not explicitly stated in the published provisions of the higher education grants scheme, it is in conformity with clause 2 (c) (iii) of the scheme.
In determining reckonable income, statements from the inspector of taxes are not explicitly excluded. In fact, in the case of persons assessed for income tax under the PAYE system, the evidence of income required is normally a P60 or P21 which is issued by the Revenue Commissioners. In the case of self-employed persons, the evidence of income normally required is a notice of assessment or a statement of amended liability which is issued by the Revenue Commissioners. However, in accordance with the provisions of the higher education grants scheme, in making a declaration of reckonable income, the applicant or the applicant's parents or guardians are required to submit to the local authority such information and make such declaration as may be required by it to determine the amount of the reckonable income and the number of dependent children.
Accordingly, where there is reasonable doubt as to the financial standing of the applicant's parents or guardians, a local authority may, at its discretion, seek such supporting documentation as may be required to confirm the correctness of financial information supplied by the applicant.