John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 509: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason a social welfare means-tested payment is not accepted as proof of income at local authority level for the purpose of third level grant applications; his plans to change this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38241/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The means test arrangements of the Student Maintenance Grant Schemes have been in operation since 1983 and are applied nationally. In the case of both the employed and self-employed gross income is assessed with certain specified social welfare and health service executive payments excluded.

Under the schemes reckonable income is defined as income from:

Employment/Pensions; Self Employment/Farming;

Rent and income from Land/Property; Deposit/Investment Accounts;

Maintenance Arrangements;

Gifts/Inheritances and Disposal of Assets and Rights; and

Social Welfare in certain circumstances.

As all applications for financial support are means tested in accordance with the terms of the student support schemes, a candidate shall not be eligible for a grant if the reckonable income for the purpose of the means testing is over the prescribed income limits or if there is insufficient supporting documentation for the application to be assessed.