Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 13 Jun 1991

Vol. 409 No. 8

Written Answers. - Third Level Education Grants.

Proinsias De Rossa

Ceist:

53 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the anomaly in the grants systems for third level education whereby grants for fees and maintenance are allocated on the basis of parents' income, irrespective of whether or not the applicant is living at home; if she has any plans to deal with this anomaly; if in particular she will ensure that applications for mature students will be dealt with on the basis that they are independent adults; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Education (Mrs. O'Rourke)

The eligibility of all applicants for grants under the higher education grants scheme are assessed at present on the basis of parental income. I do not accept that assessment on this basis constitutes an anomaly in the case of applicants deemed to be dependent on their parents. In the case of eligible students whose attendance at a course necessitates living away from home a higher level of maintenance grant is payable under the scheme.

In the Programme for Economic and Social Progress an undertaking has been given to re-examine a number of areas of the scheme. These include the question of the assessment of income of mature students who are not dependent on their parents as well as regarding mature students who secure a place in a third-level institution as satisfying the academic requirements for the award of a grant under the scheme.

I am having these matters examined and I will make an appropriate announcement in due course.