Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 June 2012
62 Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will deal the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5 regarding a student grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27585/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter for the relevant grant awarding authority.
In order for an applicant whose reckonable income is from self employment/farming to be assessed for a student grant, Article 22 (1) of the Student Grant Scheme 2011 stipulates that the following documentary evidence listed in Schedule 5 is required:
1. Copy of accounts (that is, trading account, profit and loss account, capital account and balance sheet) for each business for the year ending between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2010. The accounts extracts pages from the applicant's Return of Income do not satisfy this accounts requirement;
2. Adjusted Profit Computation for income tax for the 2010 tax year;
3. Notice of Assessment for 2010 or its foreign equivalent;
4. If it applies a current letter from the Revenue Commissioners exempting the relevant person from filing tax returns or equivalent from another state;
5. If the accounts contain a wage or remuneration expense, a detailed breakdown of wages paid to the following as outlined in Article 22 (1)(d) must be provided:
wages or payments made without applying the PAYE and PRSI regulations or equivalent regulations;
wages or payments to dependent children;
wages or payments to non-dependent children where the payment is above the norm for the work undertaken.
For Revenue purposes certain expenditure is allowable in arriving at taxable profit/loss but may not be allowable in computing reckonable income for grant purposes. Therefore, a set of accounts must be submitted to allow for the accurate calculation of reckonable income for a student grant. An applicant shall not be eligible for a grant if the reckonable income for the purpose of the means testing is over the prescribed income limits or if there is insufficient supporting documentation for the application to be assessed.
