John Bruton
Ceist:231 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Education the cost to the Exchequer of abolishing the income limits on higher education grants, assuming that there is no overall increase in the number of university places.
Written Answers. - Higher Education Grants.
It is assumed in the estimate provided below that abolition of income limits for higher education grant purposes would result in the award of full maintenance and fee grants to all candidates who satisfy the attainments criteria. On the basis of the latest available enrolment and student attainment data for the universities and certain other institutions in the HEA sector it is estimated that abolition of income limits would involve additional annual Exchequer expenditure of approximately £50 million in 1990 prices.