Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 416: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her views, in relation to the special third level grant for disadvantaged students, of amending the regulations to incorporate a change of circumstances provision whereby current rather than previous year's income can be taken into account in order that applicants whose financial circumstances have disimproved will not be refused on the basis of income levels which they no longer enjoy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29393/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The report of the Action Group on Access to Third Level Education made detailed recommendations concerning the introduction of special rates of maintenance grants for disadvantaged students. The target group of "those most in need" was defined in terms of the dependants of people receiving long-term welfare payments, where the necessary conditions are fulfilled. The special rates of grant are also available to mature students who meet the prescribed conditions. 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.

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. 31 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 2007/2008 is €18,055. Under my Department's student maintenance grant schemes, I am committed to ongoing improvements in the student support schemes including increasing the rates and income limits, as resources permit. It is not proposed to depart from the existing arrangements for the determination of the eligibility threshold.