Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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308. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reasons supplementary welfare allowance is not considered as a qualifying payment for the special rate of maintenance grant for third level study; if he will reconsider his position in respect of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31624/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Persons in receipt of the supplementary welfare allowance may apply for a student grant. Assuming that students satisfy all of the relevant terms and conditions of the student grant scheme, eligible students on this payment qualify for the standard rate of grant and student contribution or fees where applicable. Supplementary welfare allowance is not an eligible payment for the special rate of grant because it is considered to be a short-term payment. I have no plans at present to extend the student grant scheme to include it as an eligible payment.