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

Question 615: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the proof of income required for the purposes of third level grants for the recipients of disability allowance, jobseekers allowance and pre-retirement allowance; and if the same requirement applies to the farm assist payment when nil means are assessed against them and all of which are means tested by the Department of Social and Family Affairs. [39564/08]

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;

Social Welfare in certain circumstances.

As all applications for financial support are means tested in accordance with the terms and conditions 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.