Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 249: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when a decision will be made as to whether the students participating in the Law Society professional practice course 1, evening course, will be eligible for the higher education maintenance grant; if students on this course will be dealt with in the same manner as their counterparts taking the day course; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35920/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

My Department has received correspondence from the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland seeking approval for the inclusion of the winter streams of the professional practice course 1 under the higher education grant scheme for 2005-06. The application for course approval is under consideration within my Department.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 250: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she has made provision in Estimates 2006 for the increase in the income limits and in the maintenance payments under the higher education grant, in respect of standard applicants and applicants eligible for a special top up grant; the present values in respect of these and the proposed values. [35977/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The statutory framework for the maintenance grants scheme, as set out in the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts 1968 to 1992, provides for means-tested higher education grants in order to assist students to attend full-time third level education. With regard to income thresholds prescribed under the student maintenance grant schemes, the practice in recent years has been to increase the reckonable income limits in line with movements in the average industrial wage for the relevant year. Similarly, with regard to the value of the grant, the practice in recent years has been to increase the maintenance grants annually at least in line with inflation as per the consumer price index.

The special rates of maintenance grant, usually referred to as "top-up" grants, payable to disadvantaged grant holders, were introduced with effect from the 2000-01 academic year. The annual income threshold for the special rates of maintenance grant is increased, in line with the relevant social welfare payments. The current income threshold for "top-up" is €15,626. The higher, non-adjacent special rate of maintenance is based on the maximum personal rate of unemployment assistance. The following tables provide details of the current reckonable income limits and grant rates.

The Estimate provisions are only the first stage in the process of determining specific allocations, improvements and initiatives across all sectors of education. This process is continuing and I will convey the necessary details as decisions are taken. I envisage the same process will apply for the academic year 2006-07 in regard to changes to the thresholds for eligibility and the grant levels. The review of the income eligibility thresholds and rates of grant will take place in the first quarter of 2006 as soon as the relevant data are available.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 251: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the month used for calculating the movement in prices and the movement in wages which is used by her Department for updating the value of maintenance payments and of income thresholds under higher education grants. [35978/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

With regard to income thresholds prescribed under the student maintenance grant schemes, the practice in recent years has been to increase the reckonable income limits for the ordinary rate of grant by at least the annual increase in the average industrial wage in the 12 months to September of the year prior to the relevant academic year. Similarly, with regard to the value of the grant, the practice in recent years has been to increase the level of maintenance grants annually at least in line with inflation as per the consumer price index. The reference period used is the increase in the period to December of the year prior to the relevant academic year.

The special rates of maintenance grant, usually referred to as "top-up" grants, payable to disadvantaged grant holders, were introduced with effect from the 2000-01 academic year. The annual income threshold for the special rates of maintenance grant is increased, in line with the relevant social welfare payments. The current income threshold for "top-up" is €15,626. The higher, non-adjacent special rate of maintenance is based on the maximum personal rate of unemployment assistance. The following tables provide details of the current reckonable income limits and grant rates.

The Estimate provisions are only the first stage in the process of determining specific allocations, improvements and initiatives across all sectors of education. This process is continuing and I will convey the necessary details as decisions are taken. I envisage the same process will apply for the academic year 2006-07 in regard to changes to the thresholds for eligibility and the grant levels. The review of the income eligibility thresholds and rates of grant will take place in the first quarter of 2006 as soon as the relevant data are available.