Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 January 2014

Thursday, 23 January 2014

Ceisteanna (86)

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

86. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider amending the student grant provisions to allow social welfare payments such as illness benefit or supplementary welfare to be recognised as one of the payments required to satisfy the criteria for the special rate of maintenance in circumstances where the income is beneath the required threshold; his views on whether such a provision would be within the spirit of the special rate of maintenance to provide additional support to those students from disadvantaged backgrounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3441/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

Illness benefit and Supplementary welfare allowance are not eligible payments for the special rate of grant because they are considered to be short-term payments.

Jobseeker's allowance is considered to be a short-term payment unless it is held for 391 consecutive days at the 31st December. Periods of Jobseeker's Allowance, Jobseeker's Benefit, Illness Benefit and Maternity Benefit may be combined for the purposes of meeting the 391 days, provided that a period of Jobseeker's Allowance or Benefit comes directly before or directly after the period of Illness or Maternity Benefit. Whilst a student may not eligible for the special rate of maintenance grant in his/her first year of study he/she may 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.