Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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Question 168: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the higher education grant applications to take into account disposable income and reflect outgoings such as mortgage repayments, rent, medical bills and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15735/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The assessment of means under my Department's student grant schemes is based on gross income from all sources. Therefore, all income is assessed from the same starting point, eliminating any distortion which might arise from different spending decisions. The income thresholds are also stated on a gross income basis – the average industrial wage by reference to which the thresholds are calculated represents gross pay before any deductions for income tax or PRSI. I have no plans at present to depart from the above practice in respect of the determination of income.