Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
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Question 265: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a student's (details supplied) parent's pension is being taken into account for their means tested income for a grant in the vocational education committee maintenance grant year 2011/2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22008/12]

Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
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Question 266: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the circumstances in which a students parent's pension income is counted in the students reckonable income for their maintenance grant application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22009/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 265 and 266 together.

The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter for the relevant grant awarding authority. As previously stated in my reply to the Deputy in Parliamentary Question Number 394 of 18th April 2012, reckonable income for student grants purposes is gross income from all sources whether it arises in the State or not. It includes income from pensions. Officials of my Department have been in contact with the VEC concerned and I understand that the applicant applied as a dependent mature student when he commenced his study. His application is therefore assessed based on his parents' income and that of his own.

The applicant is already in receipt of the Back to Education Allowance from the Department of Social Protection in respect of his living costs. In addition, he was awarded a part fee grant under the Student Grant Scheme based on the reckonable income details submitted. If the applicant is not satisfied with the rate of fee grant awarded by the grant awarding authority, that decision may be appealed to the awarding authority's appeals officer. Where the appeals officer decides to reject the appeal, the applicant may appeal this decision to my Department or the independent appeals board, as appropriate.