Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)

I will try to explain it to the Deputy, particularly to a Deputy from the Labour Party. The ultimate purpose of this change is to prioritise resources to those who are in genuine need. Anecdotal evidence was brought to the attention of the Department that the scheme was being abused in certain cases. People deliberately took a gap period in their education in order to qualify for the grant. If these people had continued their education consecutively, they would not have qualified for the grant because they would have been assessed on their parents' incomes. In some cases, people deliberately frustrated the intentions of the scheme solely in order to qualify for a grant. Arising out of my response, I hope the Deputy will appreciate that the change was signalled well in advance. Its purpose was to prioritise resources and to focus them on genuine second chance and mature students.

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