John Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I greatly appreciate the opportunity to raise this very important issues as a Topical Issue matter. I raised it already this morning during questions on promised legislation. I did not realise at that time that my Topical Issue matter had been selected. The basic issue relates to an individual in my constituency who is in receipt of €229 in family income supplement, which is a substantial enough payment in its own right. It recognises the particular circumstances of my constituent. He has a wife. He is working, she is a full-time homemaker and they have seven children. In recognition of the need to meet their weekly outgoings, the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection deems it necessary to pay them the family income supplement, which is very welcome. It is a very good and fair scheme and is reflective of the need in which families find themselves and of the support they need. Long may it continue.

The eldest child of that same family is sitting his leaving certificate this year and will be going to third level next year. He applied for a third-level grant and failed to get it on the basis that the family's income exceeds the threshold. This is an anomaly and it must be corrected. The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection deems it necessary to pay this family income support in order to meet its basic requirements. This is a family that will pay its mortgage, its household tax, its property tax and VAT on everything it buys. These people are contributing to society in every way. They are now trying to educate their family. They have started with their eldest son but cannot get a grant for higher education. This is an anomaly which must be corrected.

I am not asking the Minister of State to come back with a review and an overhaul of the system. We can talk about such things at all times. Education grants are always to be reviewed. However, in these particular circumstances - and I would imagine that there are not too many people in this situation as we speak - if a family is in receipt of the family income supplement, there should be an automatic entitlement to a Student Universal Support Ireland, SUSI, grant. I ask the Minister of State to rectify this matter by ministerial order or any other method that might be required. I ask that she does not put the family or the student under any further stress. To use a common term, this is a no-brainer. It is something which should be dealt with and needs to be dealt with. I know the Minister of State to be a person of practicality and fairness.

I ask her to use that practicality and fairness and simply intervene to resolve this issue immediately.

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