Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

Is the Minister aware that the Minister for Social and Family Affairs has been able to make changes for income from SSIAs? When the SSIA scheme was promoted by the Government, did it include in the terms and conditions the fact the reckonable income from it would be used when applying for a maintenance grant? If not, it is a matter for the Advertising Standards Authority. The terms and conditions should have made people aware of this.

I accept increases have been made in the maintenance grants but there have been greater increases in the costs of accommodation, travel and books. Does the Minister have a figure for the number of low income families who took out an SSIA expressly to fund college education for a child who have been affected by this decision? I have received complaints from several counties.

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