Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018
511. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Skills when he plans to amend the Student Universal Support Ireland regulations to take into account families with serious medical conditions that affect outgoings in a significant way. [33281/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraStudent grant applications are means tested on gross income from all sources earned inside and outside the State within a specified reference period.
The means test arrangements of the Student Grant Scheme are applied nationally on the same basis to both employed and self-employed applicants. Gross income before the deduction of income tax or universal social charge, is assessed with certain specified social welfare and health service executive payments excluded.
Therefore, 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.
