Higher Education Grants

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 May 2012

Tuesday, 1 May 2012

Ceisteanna (175)

Mattie McGrath

Ceist:

235 Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person who is under financial difficulties and is being assisted by the Money Advice and Budgetary Agency can be refused a higher education grant for their children to continue in third level education; the contacts he has had with other State agencies who are assisting families in difficult financial circumstances or who are availing of advice from MABS; how he suggests families in such difficult financial circumstances can send their children to third level education; his plans to review the criteria for higher education grants to take into account families' expenditure on rent, mortgages and other household loans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21450/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn)

The assessment of means under my Department's student grant scheme is based on gross income from all sources. Therefore, all income is assessed from the same starting point, eliminating any distortion which might arise from different spending decisions. The means test arrangements of the student grant scheme are applied nationally. In the case of both employed and self-employed applicants, gross income is assessed with certain specified social welfare and health service executive payments excluded. The eligibility of an applicant, or the level of the grant awarded, may be re-assessed by the awarding authority in the event of a change of circumstances in the academic year. The applicant should in the first instance contact the relevant awarding body and notify them of the change in circumstances.

I have no plans at present to depart from the above practice in respect of the determination of income. In addition, the Student Assistance Fund will continue to be made available through the access offices of third-level institutions to assist students in exceptional financial need. The access offices themselves also provide support and advice to students to enable them to continue with their studies. My Department engages on an on-going basis with other Government Departments in relation to student supports.