Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the cost to his Department if the income threshold for liability to pay the registration fee was increased by €10,000 and €20,000 respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55763/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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In order to estimate the potential savings arising from the 3% reduction in income thresholds for the 2013/14 academic year announced in the Budget, an analysis of the available information on the reckonable incomes of students currently in receipt of a grant was utilised.

However, in order to carry out the exercise requested by the Deputy, related to the estimation of the potential cost involved in increasing the income thresholds for payment of the Student Contribution under the Student Grant Scheme, information on those students whose reckonable income would be between €55,920 - €65,920 and €65,920 - €75,920 respectively would be required. In general terms we would need to know how many students would come from families whose income would come within the ranges put forward by the Deputy. The Deputy will appreciate that this information is not readily available to the Department.