John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 603: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason a means tested social welfare payment has not been accepted as proof of income for third level grant purposes in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Waterford; if he will ensure that such cases are treated with discretion to avoid causing financial hardship to families in receipt of a social welfare payment who depend on the grant payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39284/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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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;

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.

The decision on eligibility for third level grants is a matter for the relevant assessing authority — i.e. the local authority or VEC. 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 assessing authority, 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.