Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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59. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there are any circumstances in which a student grant applicant who is not in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment may be eligible for a special rate grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24973/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The qualifying criteria for the special rate of maintenance grant in the 2013/14 academic year as specified under the 2013 student grant scheme is as follows:

1. Student must qualify for the standard rate of grant.

2. Total reckonable income net of income disregards and Child Dependant Increase must not exceed €22,703.

3. As at the 31st December 2012, the reckonable income must include one of the eligible payments listed in Schedule 2 of the scheme.

The eligible payments listed in Schedule 2 are mainly of a social welfare nature. However, it also includes Designated Programmes such as the Tús Initiative and the Community Employment Scheme.