Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 October 2013
173. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will be permitted to apply for a student grant as an independent applicant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44157/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFor student grants purposes, students are categorised according to their circumstances either as students dependent on parents or a legal guardian, or as independent mature students. A student may be assessed as an independent mature student if he/she has attained the age of 23 on the 1st of January of the year of first entry to an approved post leaving certificate course or an approved higher education course or of re-entry following a break in studies of at least three years. To be assessed as independent mature, such student must not be ordinarily resident with his/her parents from October of the year before the first point of entry to an approved post leaving certificate course or an approved higher education course or re-entry to an approved course. Otherwise he/she would continue to be assessed on the basis of his/her parents' income. There are no plans at present to change the current arrangements.
