Vol. 554 No. 5
574 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will review the decision not to allow a person (details supplied) in County Cork the special maintenance top up grant due to the fact this person's father is in receipt of disability benefit and not an invalidity pension; and if he will now allow it, in view of the fact that this person's father has now applied for an invalidity pension which will take some time. [16061/02]
575 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason his Department does not have disability benefit included in the list of eligible payments under the eligibility criteria for the special rates of maintenance grants as issued by his Department for the 2002-03 academic year; and the reason disability benefit is excluded when an invalidity pension is included in view of the fact that they are approximately the same levels of payment to the individuals, and the applicant's family are solely dependent on social welfare and are excluded from top up maintenance payments. [16062/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 574 and 575 together.
Special rates of maintenance grant for disadvantaged students, usually referred to as top-up grants, were introduced with effect from the 2000-01 academic year.
The target group of "those most in need" has been defined in terms of the dependants of people receiving long-term welfare payments, where the necessary conditions are fulfilled. The special rates of grant are also available to mature students who meet the prescribed conditions.
Earlier this year, my Department carried out a review of the operation of the special rates of maintenance grant. This review also has had the benefit of input from the Department of Social and Family Affairs.
Arising from the review, the criteria for the special rates were broadened significantly and a number of additional social welfare payments have been included as eligible payments, for purposes of the scheme. As disability benefit is considered to be a short-term payment, it is not included as an eligible payment for purposes of the special rates of maintenance grant. Invalidity pension is, however, considered a long-term welfare payment. Persons in receipt of disability benefit must apply, and be assessed, for invalidity pension.
In the case referred to by the Deputy, it is indicated that the candidate's father has now applied for invalidity pension. If the application is successful the candidate will be eligible to be reassessed for the special rate of grant, as a result of the change in circumstances, with effect from the date the invalidity pension is approved from.
