Written answers

Wednesday, 20 February 2008

Department of Education and Science

Higher Education Grants

9:00 pm

Photo of Pat RabbittePat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 111: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will reduce the threshold age of 23 for single parents who wish to continue their studies in full-time education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6062/08]

Photo of Ciarán LynchCiarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 124: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her plans, to reduce the eligibility threshold age from 23 years or above on 1 January of the year commencing their course for independent assessment having regard to the fact that students are eligible to vote at 18 years and many can be married by the age of 21 and have dependent children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6061/08]

Photo of Mary HanafinMary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 111 and 124 together.

Under the terms of my Department's student grant schemes, the position is that students who are entering approved courses for the first time are eligible for grants where they satisfy the prescribed conditions with regard to age, residence, means, nationality and previous academic attainment.

Students are categorised according to their circumstances either as independent mature students, mature students dependent on parents or guardians, or as students other than mature students. In accordance with the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Act 1992, a mature student is defined as a candidate who is at least 23 years of age on the 1st January of the year of entry or re-entry to an approved course.

An independent mature student is defined as meaning a mature student who was not ordinarily resident at home with his/her parents or guardians from the October preceding their entry to an approved course. Independent mature students are assessed without reference to either their parents' or guardians' income. The reckonable income of an independent mature student is that of the candidate and his/her spouse.

When assessing the means of students other than independent mature students, the means test provision of the scheme specifies that the students' means and those of their parents or guardians must be below a prescribed limit. This provision requires that parental income be taken into account irrespective of the individual circumstances in any case where the student is not deemed to be an independent mature student.

A number of representations have been received on this matter, seeking a review of the position where all students who are under the age of 23 are automatically assessed by reference to their parents' income, irrespective of their circumstances.

I am pleased to advise you that the recently-published Student Support Bill will provide the Minister with the power to regulate for different categories of student, including the category of independent student. This will enable me, if there are compelling reasons and adequate resources to do so, to consider extending the current definition of an independent student.

My Department is currently reviewing the circumstances where a means assessment independent of parental income would be appropriate, and in the context of the development of a new unified scheme of student support, is undertaking further consultation on this and related matters with a view to establishing the particular circumstances where assessment as an independent student might be warranted.

The Deputies will be aware that very significant numbers of our third-level students move out of home to go to college and continue to be supported by their parents. The purpose of the student grant schemes is to provide additional assistance where parental income is below a certain threshold or, in the case of independent mature students, where the level of income of the student and his or her spouse warrants additional assistance by way of a grant.

Therefore, any extension of the provision of assessment as an independent student will have to be carefully considered to ensure it is highly targeted at very specific circumstances where students can demonstrate that they have been genuinely self-supporting and living independently for a number of years. The Deputies will appreciate that it would be untenable to have a situation whereby all students could simply move out of their parental home and be deemed to be independent for grants purposes. This would have very significant implications for the student grants budget and would further disadvantage those who need the grant most.

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