Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 258 of 20 November 2012, if he will give assurances to students in receipt of a maintenance and top up grant for the academic year 2012/2013 under the category NA1-T, that second and subsequent instalments are guaranteed and will not be reduced as a result of Budget 2013; if he will, in addition provide details of postgraduate funding options and for prospective students and details of the way these have been affected by Budget 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56842/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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There was no change in Budget 2013 to the non-adjacent or adjacent rates of grant, including the higher special rate of grant for the 2013 financial year, therefore there will be no reduction in the remaining instalments due for the 2012/13 academic year.

Students entering approved postgraduates courses who meet the qualifying conditions for the special rate of grant will be eligible to have their post-graduate tuition fees paid up to the maximum fee limit of €6,270 under the Student Grant Scheme. A further limited number of students will qualify to have a €2,000 contribution made towards the costs of their fees. The income threshold for this payment is €31,500 for the 2012/13 academic year, increasing relative to the number of dependent children.

Budget 2013 provided for a 3% reduction in grant income thresholds in 2013 grant scheme. The measure will apply to both new and renewal. This reduction in thresholds does not apply to the threshold for the special rate of grant and the threshold for the €2,000 contribution at postgraduate will still be €31,500 for the 2013/14 academic year.