Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 January 2015

Tuesday, 27 January 2015

Ceisteanna (146)

Michelle Mulherin

Ceist:

146. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will amend the student grant scheme in order that mortgage repayments on the family home are considered in the means test for grant eligibility and that the income limits be increased according to the number of other dependent siblings, so as to recognise the hard-pressed financial reality of heavily-indebted and larger families that are ineligible for grant aid due to income being in excess of eligibility thresholds, but who cannot afford to send a dependent child to college without grant assistance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3266/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

Student grant applications are means tested on gross income from all sources earned inside and outside the State within a specified reference period. The assessment of income from the same starting point is deemed to be fair and reasonable because this approach eliminates any distortion which might arise from different spending decisions in different households. The Student Grant Scheme already provides for higher income thresholds for larger families. In addition to this, further increases in the income thresholds are provided for where additional family members are attending further and higher education at the same time. In the interest of equity, I have no plans to change the current arrangement.