Vol. 554 No. 5
608 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason it is necessary to include holiday earnings of the candidate on the form for a third level grant; if students are being penalised for working the summer; and if this can be assessed as income for the purposes of the higher education grant. [16256/02]
The assessment of means under my Departments third level student support schemes is based on gross income from all sources of the candidate and his-her parents-guardians, where applicable, with certain social welfare and health board payments being exempt.
However, in the assessment of means, allowance is made for holiday earnings on the part of the candidate. Under the terms of the schemes, holiday earnings are defined as a candidates reasonable earnings from employment outside of term time. At present holiday earnings of up to €3,810 are regarded as reasonable and are, accordingly, excluded in the calculation of reckonable income for grant purposes.
