Vol. 562 No. 3
122 Mr. Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will instruct the higher education sections in the county councils and the vocational education committees to accept social welfare assessments as a basis for being eligible for a third level grant. [5973/03]
My Department funds three means-tested maintenance grant schemes for third level education students in respect of attendance on approved courses in approved third level institutions: –
(a) The Higher Education Grants Scheme
(b) The Vocational Education Committees' Scholarship Scheme
(c) The Third Level Maintenance Grants Scheme for Trainees
All three schemes have similar provisions relating to the assessment of means for purposes of determining eligibility. Gross income is assessed with certain deductions for specified social welfare and health board payments.
The procedure to be adopted by the local authorities and the vocational education committees in relation to the means-test is set out in the maintenance grants schemes.
There are no plans at present to adopt a practice whereby applicants who have been assessed under another Department's scheme might be exempted from the means-test prescribed under the terms of my Department's maintenance grants schemes.
