Noel Dempsey
Ceist:38 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for Education if she will amend the higher education grant scheme to take account of families with more than eight members when considering income eligibility for these schemes. [7497/95]
Written Answers. - Higher Education Grants Scheme.
The higher education grants scheme makes special provision for large families. There is a special income eligibility limit which applies in the case of families where there are eight or more dependants. In addition, in cases of two or more children attending third level education the income limits may be increased by £2,000 where there are two such children, £4,000 for three such children and so on, by increments of £2,000. I will consider the scope for changes in relation to large families having regard to the Report of the Advisory Committee on Third Level Student Support and the overall resources available to me.