Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 653: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if a student, who does not qualify for a grant in the first year of their third level course, may be considered for a grant for subsequent years of the course. [15095/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Students who are entering approved courses at undergraduate or postgraduate level for the first time are eligible for maintenance grants where they satisfy the relevant conditions of the relevant scheme including those relating to age, residence, means and nationality. The Grants Schemes contain a 'change in circumstances' clause which provides that a candidate's eligibility may be assessed or re-assessed in the event of a change in circumstances in relation to, inter alia, reckonable income, the number of dependant children, and nationality. A candidate can apply to the assessing authority be assessed or re-assessed for grant assistance with effect from the academic term when the change occurs.

The decision on eligibility for student 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.

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 654: To ask the Minister for Education and Science his plans to reconsider the situation whereby eligibility for a grant under the higher education grant scheme for a student who is not old enough to qualify as a mature student and who has set up an independent home continues to be assessed on the basis of parental income. [15096/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The Student Support Bill will provide the Minister with the power to regulate for different classes of applicants. This power would enable me, if there are compelling reasons and adequate resources to do so, to consider extending the circumstances where a student could be assessed without reference to parental income. 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.

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 system presumes on a level of parental support for students going to college. If students were allowed to be assessed on their own means simply on the basis of moving out of home, significant additional numbers would be likely to qualify. The Deputy 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 could have very significant implications for the student grants budget and could further disadvantage those who need the grant most.