Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 May 2013
91. Deputy Heather Humphreys asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on a student grant application (details supplied); his plans to review the requirement that an applicant must be in receipt of a jobseeker’s payment for 390 consecutive days; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26402/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will appreciate that in the absence of all of the relevant details that would be contained in an individual's application form and supporting documentation, it would not be possible for me to say whether or not a student should qualify for the special rate of maintenance grant. However, the qualifying criteria for the special rate of maintenance grant in the 2012/13 academic year as specified under the 2012 student grant scheme is as follows:
1. Student must qualify for the standard rate of grant.
2. Total reckonable income net of income disregards and Child Dependant Increase must not exceed €22,703
3. As at 31st December, 2011, the reckonable income must include one of the eligible long-term social welfare payments prescribed in the Student Grant Scheme. Jobseekers Allowance is considered to be a short-term payment unless it is held for 390 consecutives days at the 31st December 2011. A student may however apply for the special rate in subsequent years of their study. It is not proposed to depart from the existing arrangements for the determination of the eligibility for the special rate of maintenance grant.
