Vol. 509 No. 3
35 Mr. D'Arcy asked the Minister for Education and Science the proposals, if any, he has to make appropriate increases in the income limits which apply to the levels of third level maintenance grants and the level of grant payable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19996/99]
My approach has been to follow the practice in recent years and increase the reckonable income limits in line with movements in the average industrial wage in the previous year. I increased the reckonable income limits for the 1999-2000 academic year by 4.6 per cent, based on the increase in the average industrial wage for the period March 1997 to March 1998. I have also applied the increase in the reckonable income limits to the allowance by which the income limits may be increased in respect of other family members pursuing a course of study. In such cases, for the 1999-2000 academic year, the reckonable income limits may be increased by £2,160 where there are two such children, £4,320 where there are three, and so on by increments of £2,160.
Similarly in relation to the value of the grant, I have followed the practice of recent years and increased third level maintenance grants in line with inflation as measured by the change in the consumer price index for the period mid February to mid February each year.
As the Deputy will appreciate improvements in the student support schemes must have regard to overall resource constraints and other competing demands in the education sector. I have previously indicated my intention to first seek to deal with the more significant anomalies or disincentives in the grants schemes before dealing with the more general issue of grant levels and income limits.
In this regard, my priority has been to honour the commitment given in the Programme for Government, An Action Programme for the Millennium, to introduce equitable support for students attending PLC courses. I have honoured that commitment and introduced a maintenance grants scheme for students attending post leaving certificate courses with effect from the 1998-99 academic year.
I have also announced that, with effect from the 1999-2000 academic year, all eligible mature students will qualify for the higher non-adjacent rate of grant. I was particularly concerned about mature students and independent mature students in particular in regard to the rate of grant payable. This improvement is estimated to cost £2.4 million over the next two years.
