Student Universal Support Ireland Administration

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 November 2015

Thursday, 19 November 2015

Ceisteanna (214)

Seán Fleming

Ceist:

214. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the regulations of Student Universal Support Ireland, SUSI, to implement in respect of situations where a student who was applying for a third level grant receives an inheritance, and this amount is deemed to be income in one particular year and makes the person ineligible for a grant from SUSI, whereas certain Departments treat an inheritance as a capital receipt, and not as income, and in other situations such as the Department of Social Protection, it can be averaged out over three years so as not to distort a person's income based on a once-off receipt in any one year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41018/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

Article 24(6) of the Student Grant Scheme 2015 provides that gifts or inheritances received in the reference period will be included as reckonable income. If any of the persons whose income is under consideration received a gift or an inheritance in the reference period, these are included in reckonable income, unless in the case of an independent student, the gift or inheritance was between the applicant and his or her spouse, civil partner or cohabitant; or in the case of a dependent student, the gift or inheritance was between parents or to the applicant from his or her parent(s). I have no plans to change the current arrangements in relation to the treatment of gifts or inheritance for student grants purposes.