Vol. 577 No. 3
86 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason third level students who were under the means test for the top-up grant are deemed ineligible due to the fact that their parents are not receiving a social welfare payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30678/03]
The report of the action group on access to third level education makes detailed recommendations concerning the introduction of special rates of maintenance grants for disadvantaged students. The special rates are usually referred to as "top-up grants". 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. To qualify for the special rate of maintenance grant, a candidate must meet a number of conditions. These including the following: (i) he or she must already qualify for one of my Department's ordinary maintenance grants; (ii) total reckonable income must not exceed the specified limit for the academic year in question; (iii) on the operative date, the income into the household must include one of the specified long-term social welfare payments.
Question No. 87 answered with Question No. 71.
Question No. 88 answered with Question No. 51.
