John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Question 176: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the reason a higher education grant was refused in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if she will agree to have their entitlement fully reinvestigated. [25725/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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When assessing the means of students other than independent mature students, the student grant schemes specify that students' means and those of their parents/guardians must be below a prescribed limit. This provision requires that the parents' income be taken into account, irrespective of the individual circumstances in any case where the student is not an independent mature student.

Only in exceptional cases, where compelling evidence of estrangement from parents/guardians is provided, can candidates who are under 23 be assessed without reference to their parents/guardians income or address. The type of independent verification/evidence required would be a letter from a social worker or other appropriate officer of the Health Service Executive explaining the circumstances under which the candidate is estranged from his/her parents/guardians. Confirmation that a candidate is living separately from parents/guardians is not sufficient in this regard. Where candidates are estranged from parents/guardians, the necessary evidence in support of their case should be submitted to the relevant Local Authority or Vocational Education Committee for consideration. In the case referred to by the Deputy, the matter may be re-examined if such evidence is made available to the relevant Local Authority or VEC.