Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 October 2004
137 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a child of two persons on non-contributory old age pension is ineligible for the top-up grant; if she will consider increasing the cut off point of the means test in order that such a person be in a position to receive the grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23848/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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, 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 top-up grant all candidates must satisfy the following conditions: qualify for the ordinary maintenance grant in respect of the academic year 2004-05; total reckonable income limit in the tax year to 31 December 2003 must not exceed €14,693 net of standard exclusions, as set out in the 2004 maintenance grants schemes and net of CDA payments, where applicable; and as at 31 December 2003, the reckonable income of parent(s)/guardian(s), the candidate himself/herself, or the income of the spouse/partner, as the case may be, must include one of the eligible social welfare payments prescribed under the scheme.
The reckonable income threshold is calculated by taking the maximum point of the old age contributory pension plus the maximum qualified adult allowance for a person over 66 years. This yielded an annual income threshold of €14,693 for the 2004 scheme. It is not proposed to depart from the existing arrangements for the determination of the eligibility threshold.
