Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 534: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position in relation to a third level grant applicant who had a change of circumstances since 2004; if the applicant is working part-time and their parents are also working part-time the documentation which is required for the application; the details on which the application is assessed on; the income limits for a grant in 2005; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30233/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Under the terms of the higher education grants scheme which is administered by the local authorities, on behalf of my Department, the position is that generally, students who are entering approved courses for the first time are eligible for grants where they satisfy the relevant conditions as to residence, means, nationality and previous academic attainment. There are similar provisions in the other third level maintenance grant schemes administered by the VECs, namely, the vocational education committees' scholarship scheme and the third level maintenance grants scheme for trainees.

The candidate's reckonable income for the purposes of the means test is his or her gross income from all sources and the gross income of his or her parents or guardians, where applicable, with certain specified social welfare and health board payments being exempt. Grant assistance may not be awarded in any case where the reckonable income exceeds the prescribed income limits for the award of a grant. However, the schemes contain a change in circumstances clause whereby the eligibility of a person may be assessed or reassessed by the grant awarding body, in the event of changes in circumstances relating to, inter alia, the candidate's reckonable income, which are likely to be permanent.

Eligibility for grant aid will be based on revised income. Current income details should be supplied regarding the individuals concerned. In certain circumstances further documentation-clarification may be required by the awarding body.

The following table outlines the current 2005-06 reckonable income limits for the maintenance grants schemes.

A candidate's reckonable income shall be the income for the period 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2004.

In the 2005-06 academic year where two or more children (or the candidate's parent) are pursuing a course of study listed below, the reckonable income limits may be increased by €4,295 where there are two such children, €8,590 where there are three such children and so on, by increments of €4,295:

(i) attending full-time third-level education;

(ii) attending a recognised PLC course, student nurse training or student garda training;

(iii) participation in Fáilte Ireland (formerly CERT) course of at least one years duration;

(iv) attending a full-time Teagasc course in an agricultural College;

(v) attending a recognised full-time further education course, of at least one year's duration, in Northern Ireland.

Special Rate of Maintenance Grant

For the award of a special rate of maintenance grant in respect of the 2005/06 academic year, a candidates reckonable income (for the period 1 January, 2004 to 31 December 2004, the tax year 2004) shall not exceed:—

∙€15,626

∙net of standard exclusions (as set out in clause 1 of this scheme)

and

∙net of Child Dependant Increase (C.D.I.) paid by the Department of Social and Family Affairs

As at 31 December 2004, this reckonable income must include one of the social welfare payments listed as follows.

LIST OF ELIGIBLE PAYMENTS

1. Social Assistance Payments

Blind Person's Pension

Carer's Allowance

Deserted Wife's Allowance

Disability Allowance

Farm Assist

Lone Parent's allowance

Unemployment Assistance (where held for 391 days or more)

Old Age (Non-Contributory) Pension

One parent family payment

Orphans (Non-Contributory) Pension

Pre-retirement Allowance

Prisoner's Wife's Allowance

Widow's/Widower's (Non-Contributory) Pension.

2. Social Insurance Payments

Carer's Benefit

Deserted Wife's Benefit

Invalidity Pension

Unemployability Supplement

Occupational Injuries Death Benefit (Orphan's pension)

Occupational Injuries Death Benefit (pension for a widow or widower)

Old Age Contributory Pension

Orphan's (Contributory) Allowance

Unemployment Benefit (continuous for at least 12 months)

Widow's/Widower's (Contributory) Pension

Retirement Pension.

3. Family Income Supplement (FIS)

4. Designated Programmes

Back to Education Allowance

Back to Work Allowance (Employees)

Back to Work Enterprise Allowance

Community Employment Scheme

FÁS Training Programmes, including Apprenticeships

Job Start

Part time job incentive scheme

Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS).

5. Others

a) In receipt of payments under the Fáilte Ireland Skills Programme equivalent to a social welfare payment;

b) In receipt of payments under the FIT (Fastrack to IT) initiative equivalent to a social welfare payment;

c) Participants on a training course approved by a Government Department, State Agency or Area Partnership and who were in receipt of an eligible payment prior to progressing to the programme;

d) Grant aided employees in social economy enterprises;

e) In receipt of payments under the Senior Traveller Training Centre programmes.