Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 181: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the qualifying criteria for the higher education grant top up; if exceptional costs such as mortgage repayments can be taken into consideration; if she will review the conditions of the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39449/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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To qualify for the special rate of student grant, an applicant must qualify for the ordinary student grant in respect of the 2010/11 academic year. In addition, total reckonable income must not exceed a specified amount, which is €22,703 in the 2009 tax year. Finally, on the operative date, 31st December 2009 for the 2010/11 academic year, the reckonable income must include one of the eligible long-term social welfare payments prescribed under the scheme. There are no plans at present to extend the current arrangements. Any such extension could only be considered in the light of available resources and other competing demands within the education sector.