Vol. 541 No. 2
1162 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science the income limit set for the special rates of maintenance grant for third level students; his views on whether this income limit discriminates against small farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22441/01]
The reckonable income limit for the purpose of the special rates of maintenance grant for the 2001-02 academic year is £7,400. The special rates of maintenance grant are aimed at students in disadvantaged circumstances. In order to target those most in need, eligibility is confined to students where family income comes from long-term social welfare payments or from specific schemes such as the community employment scheme.
Students from low income farming backgrounds where the parent(s)/guardian or spouse-partner is in receipt of a farm assist payment, from the Department of Social Community and Family Affairs, are eligible to be assessed for the special rate of maintenance grant. The eligibility requirements for the special rates of maintenance grant will be reviewed on an ongoing basis with a view to extending eligibility. A first step will be to assess the coverage and effectiveness of the implementation of the special rates in this first year of operation.
1163 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Education and Science if students who attend one-year access foundation courses will be entitled to a third-level maintenance grant. [22442/01]
Under the terms of the higher education grants scheme, an approved course means, inter alia, an undergraduate course of not less than two years duration. Accordingly, a one-year access foundation course is not an approved course for the purpose of considering eligibility under the scheme. The report of the action group on access to third level education, which I launched last July, has, however, recommended that the scope of the schemes of maintenance grants and of the free fees initiative should be extended to validated access courses. This recommendation is now being considered together with the other recommendations in the report.
