Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 331: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the grants or mechanisms available to a person to pay their second year college fees (details supplied) in view of the fact that they were in a position to pay their first year fees but circumstances does not allow them to pay their second year fees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15960/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Under the terms of my Department's Free Fees Initiative the exchequer meets the tuition fees of eligible students. The main conditions are that students must: a) be first-time undergraduates; b) hold E.U. nationality or official refugee status; and c) have been ordinarily resident in an E.U. Member State for at least three of the five years preceding their entry to an approved third level course. Eligibility is determined at date of entry to the course of study.

The Non EU spouse and dependent children of an EU migrant worker resident in the State may also be considered for free fees once they meet the other criteria of the scheme.

The third level institutions are autonomous bodies and, as such, may determine the level of fees to be charged in any cases where the Free Fees Initiative does not apply.

The three Third Level Student Support Schemes, administered by the Local Authorities and the Vocational Education Committees on behalf of my Department, offer financial assistance to eligible students attending approved third level courses. Students entering approved courses for the first time are, eligible for grants where they satisfy the relevant conditions as to age, residence, means, nationality and previous academic attainment.

The decision on eligibility for third level grants is a matter for the relevant assessing authority. These bodies do not refer individual applications to my Department except, in exceptional cases, where, for example, advice or instruction regarding a particular clause in the relevant scheme is required.

If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a maintenance grant, or that the rate of grant awarded is not the correct one, she/he may appeal, in the first instance, to the relevant local authority or VEC.

Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down, in writing, by the relevant local authority or VEC, and remains of the view that the body has not interpreted the schemes correctly in his/her case, an appeal form outlining the position may be submitted by the applicant to my Department.

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 332: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason parents entitled to grant aid to fund their children's third level education have been debarred from receiving grant assistance because they declared that they hold a SSIA account; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15992/08]

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 333: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason parents were not told that if they saved through an SSIA account their children's future education could be in jeopardy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15993/08]

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 334: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of students who have been denied third level education grants because their parents hold or have held an SSIA account; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15994/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 332 to 334, inclusive, together.

In relation to SSIA income, I want to assure the Deputy that the Government is determined to ensure that SSIA savers are treated fairly in the calculation of reckonable income under my Department's maintenance grant schemes.

This is being achieved in two ways. Firstly, income from SSIAs is being treated exactly the same as income from similar savings and investment products. Secondly, the reckonable income limits for student grants have been increased considerably in recent years.

Since SSIAs were introduced, the amount of income to be included in respect of them is the government grant earned on the savings in the relevant tax year plus, in the case of savings accounts, the gross interest earned in the relevant tax year, and, in the case of investment accounts, the investment profit earned in the relevant tax year. Investment losses sustained in the relevant tax year are deductible.

The same position has long applied to interest earned on other savings products, including deposit accounts, post office savings certificates, life assurance bonds etc. The treatment of SSIAs is therefore consistent with the traditional treatment of other similar investments over many years. The Department of Finance is aware of this approach to the assessment of income for eligibility for student support.

So, in applying for a grant for the 2007/08 academic year, only the relevant income earned, as outlined above, on the SSIA in 2006 has to be declared. The maximum that the Government grant to any SSIA saver could have amounted to last year, as in any year of the SSIA scheme, is €762.

This has been the position since SSIAs were introduced.

In relation to the income limits which apply when a person's eligibility for a grant is being assessed, the Deputy will be pleased to know that these have increased significantly since SSIAs were introduced.

The 2003/04 academic year was the first year in which the full year SSIA income had to be included in applying for a grant, as the reference tax year for the purpose of grant assessment was 2002.

For the 2003/04 academic year, the income limit for a family with 4 children was increased from €23,770 to €35,165 — an increase of nearly 48%.

The income limits have continued to rise each year, to the point where the limit for a family with 4 children this year is €42,490 — an increase of nearly 79% on the amount allowed in the 2002/03 academic year.

As these increases show, this Government has shown a clear determination to improve the grant system to ensure that students get as much support as possible.

In relation to the Deputy's question in respect of the number of students who have been denied third level education grants because their parents hold or have held a SSIA account, this information is not available. My Department does not collate information from the awarding authorities on the reasons why an applicant was refused a higher education grant. Failure to qualify for assistance could be for many reasons, included are those related to reckonable income, residency, nationality, previous periods of study, previous academic attainment, course of study, place of study.