Michelle Mulherin (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise the inequities thrown up by the higher education funding scheme, particularly for the squeezed middle. A recent and very interesting article in The Irish Times, by Brian Mooney, discusses the social divide and heavy dependency on higher education grants, especially in the institutes of technology. Some 61% attending institutes of technology have higher education grants and 41% of students attending universities have them. I am concerned about those caught in the middle, namely, students or potential students whose parents are PAYE workers on low to middle incomes and who do not qualify for a grant. These parents are challenged in sending their children to college. This is partly attributable to the fact that gross income is assessed. A considerable mortgage repayment on the family home is not allowed as a deduction. The cost of putting other children through third level is not taken into account, other than through an allowance given for dependent children.

Yesterday, we all rightly advocated the merits and benefits of higher education. It is no burden on anyone. A man who came into my clinic recently has three children, one of whom is doing the leaving certificate this year and the other two of whom are in college. His wife works with the HSE, although not on a very high income. The children do not qualify for a higher education grant. The man has to take out a loan each year for the two in third level. He is now at a point where he cannot afford to send his third child to college. This is the conversation he will be having over the mid-term break. None of the children qualifies for a grant. The man has taken out a loan to put two through college but there is no deduction for that. The family has a mortgage. It is paying for everything and getting nothing from the State. The third child may not go to college because he is caught between two stools. I would like this matter to be taken up with the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Richard Bruton. I believe legislative change is required. We are always talking about encouraging people to work and not making work unattractive. The hard-pressed people are the people who have to pay all round and who are not getting supports from the State. Ironically, if they were in receipt of social welfare payments, there would be a disallowance or a deduction based on any income received, thus making them qualify. This is a serious issue that affects a significant cohort. I ask that serious attention be paid to this.