Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students that will be affected by the 3% reduction in the income threshold for student maintenance grants in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55872/12]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the 3% reduction in the qualifying income threshold for grants will affect students currently in the system or if it will only affect those entering the system next year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55873/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take questions 85 and 86 together.

As announced in the Budget, the income thresholds for student grants will be reduced by 3% for the 2013/14 academic year. Between 1997 and 2009, the income limits were increased by 82%. The income limits have remained unchanged over the past three years due to the absence of data from the CSO, but data now indicates that average wages have fallen by 7.9% during that time.