Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 9 Oct 2002

Vol. 554 No. 5

Written Answers. - Higher Education Grants.

Paul McGrath

Ceist:

668 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science the maximum higher education maintenance grant payable in 1990; and if he will apply the interim consumer price index and the terms of the national wage agreements to establish the comparable rate of grant for 2002. [16763/02]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey):

The full rate of maintenance grant under the schemes of student support in 1990 was €1,743, £1,373.

For the 2002 maintenance grants schemes, I have followed the practice in recent years of increasing the level of grant at least in line with inflation. This year, accordingly, I announced an increase of 5% in the rates of maintenance grant. The reference value for inflation is the annual percentage increase in the CPI to mid-February 2002. The increase of 5% in grant rates for 2002-2003 was higher than the reference value which was 4.7%.

The full rate of maintenance grant under the 2002 grant schemes is €2,510, £1,976. The percentage increases in the consumer price index and the actual percentage increases in the maintenance grant rates since 1990 are outlined below in tabular form for the Deputy's information. It has not been the practice to increase the maintenance grant rates by reference to the terms of national wage agreements.

Year	% Increase in Maintenance Grant Rate	Increase in CPIFebruary - February
1991	2.6%	2.6%
1992	3.7%	3.7%
1993	0%	1.9%
1994	1.7%	1.7%
1995	2.5%	2.5%
1996	5.0%	1.5%
1997	1.5%	1.5%
1998	1.7%	1.7%
1999	2.3%	1.6%
2000	5.0%	4.3%
2001	6.0%	5.3%
2002	5.0%	4.7%

Paul McGrath

Ceist:

669 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science the reckonable income limit to qualify for a full higher education grant for a member of a family in which there are three dependent children in 1990; and if he will apply the interim consumer price index and the terms of the national wage agreements to this figure, to state the comparable figure in 2002. [16764/02]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey):

In 1990 the reckonable income limit for the award of the full rate of maintenance grant where there were three dependant children was €14,349, £11,301. This amount excludes an allowance for additional family members attending approved courses.

In relation to the 2002 income limits, my approach has been to follow the practice of recent years and increase the reckonable income limits at least in line with movements in the average industrial wage in the previous year. Accordingly, I approved an increase of 7% in the reckonable income limits for the 2002-03 academic year. This exceeded the increase in the average industrial wage for the period March 2000 to March 2001, which was 6.7%.

In the 2002 maintenance grants schemes, the reckonable income limit for the award of the full rate of maintenance grant where there are three dependent children is €21,629, £17,034, excluding the allowance(s) for additional family members attending approved courses.

In relation to this allowance by which the income thresholds may be increased for each dependant where two or more children are in further or higher education, I approved a significant increase of 15%. This is in line with the com mitment in the June 2002 programme for Government.

The percentage increases in the consumer price index and the actual percentage increases in the upper reckonable income limits since 1990 are outlined below in tabular form for the Deputy's information. It has not been the practice to increase the income thresholds, for purpose of determining eligibility under the maintenance grants schemes, by reference to the terms of national wage agreements.

Year	% Increase in CPIFeb – Feb	Actual % Increase in Reckonable Income Limits
1991	2.6%	2.6%
1992	3.7%	*40%
1993	1.9%	3.4%
1994	1.7%	5.4%
1995	2.5%	4.3%
1996	1.5%	2.4%
1997	1.5%	1.6%
1998	1.7%	3.2%
1999	1.6%	4.6%
2000	4.3%	5.0%
2001	5.3%	6.5%
2002	4.7%	7.0%

* Prior to 1992 the reckonable income limits increased in line with increases in the consumer price index (CPI). In 1992 a major increase of 40% was approved for the reckonable income limits in respect of the 1992-93 academic year. From 1993 to date, the reckonable income limits have been increased at least in line with movements in the average industrial wage in the previous year.

Paul McGrath

Ceist:

670 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science the reckonable income limits to qualify for full higher education grants for a family with three dependent children, one of whom is attending college, for each of the past ten years; and the maximum maintenance grant payable in each of those years. [16765/02]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey):

The data requested by the Deputy is set out in tabular form.

Year	Full Rate of Maintenance Grant	Upper Income threshold – less than 4 dependent children	Additional Increment where 2 or more children in college	TotalReckonableIncome Limits
1992	€1,855	€19,046	€2,539	€21,585
1993	€1,855	€19,694	€2,539	€22,233
1994	€1,887	€20,758	€2,539	€23,297
1995	€1,934	€21,650	€2,539	€24,189
1996	€2,032	€22,170	€2,539	€24,709
1997	€2,062	€22,525	€2,539	€25,064
1998	€2,098	€23,246	€2,616	€25,862
1999	€2,146	€24,379	€2,743	€27,122
2000	€2,254	€25,649	€2,882	€28,531
2001	€2,390	€27,316	€3,073	€30,389
2002	€2,510	*€21,629	*€2,615	*€24,244

* refers to short 9-month tax period, 2001.