Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 183: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason the higher education grant top up grant threshold does not take into account the fact that a number of siblings may be attending third level even though the HEG itself does factor this into the threshold calculation; if she will review this inequality; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18225/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Special Rate of Maintenance Grant is available to students in receipt of the ordinary maintenance grant under each of my Department's four maintenance grant schemes, which includes the Higher Education Grant Scheme.

In order to qualify for the special rate of maintenance grant a candidate must meet a number of conditions, including the following:

1.An applicant must qualify for the ordinary maintenance grant.

2.Total reckonable income in the relevant tax year must not exceed the lower income limits as set out in the relevant Maintenance Grant Schemes and, where applicable, net of Child Dependent Increase payments

3.As at the prescribed date — i.e. 31st December each year — the source of income must include one of the eligible long-term Social Welfare payments.

The prescribed income limit for the special rate of maintenance grant for the academic year 2006/2007 was €16,748. The annual review of the student support schemes is currently underway. It is anticipated that the 2007/08 schemes will be available shortly. The review addresses matters such as the increase in reckonable income limits, increase in rates of maintenance grant, revised income threshold for the Special Rates of Maintenance Grant and increases in the 2007/08 special rate of grant.

While the number of dependants is not taken into account for the Special Rates of Maintenance Grant, payments made in respect of dependants, i.e. the Child Dependent Increase, are excluded in the calculation of reckonable income. In addition, the following Social Welfare and Health Service Executive Payments are excluded in the calculation of reckonable income:—

Child Benefit

Family Income Supplement

Disability Allowance (where paid to the candidate)

Blind Pension (where paid to the candidate)

Means Tested One Parent Family Payments

Orphan's Pensions

Back to Education Allowance

Foster Care Allowance

Domiciliary Care Allowance and

Carer's Allowance

It is not proposed to depart from the existing arrangements for the determination of the eligibility threshold.