Richard Bruton
Ceist:460 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the cost of doubling the maintenance grant paid under the higher education grant scheme for both adjacent and non-adjacent rates. [19560/01]
Written Answers. - Higher Education Grants.
Richard Bruton
Ceist:461 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the cost of increasing the means thresholds for the higher education grant by 50% with the increase applying to gross income thresholds and to the allowances for extra children and extra third level students. [19561/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 460 and 461 together.
The practice of recent years has been to increase the reckonable income limits for the purpose of the maintenance grants schemes in line with changes in the average industrial wage and to increase maintenance grants at least in line with inflation. The estimated cost of doubling the rates of maintenance grant paid in 2000 in respect of the four student support schemes is approximately £82 million. This increase would comprise approximately £75 million for the non-adjacent rate and £7 million for the adjacent rate. The estimate assumes that other variables such as the numbers of grant holders, remain unchanged.
The Economic and Social Research Institute has estimated that the cost of increasing the reckonable income thresholds for these maintenance grants by 50% would be £124.4 million. Estimates of the further cost of applying a 50% increase to the allowances for child dependants generally and for child dependants in third-level education are not readily available. Last year, I announced that I was setting up a special project team to undertake a comprehensive review of every aspect of the maintenance grants. Issues being considered by this review, which is at present in progress, include the impact of increases in the level of grants and in eligibility and income limits. I expect that the review will be completed in the near future.