Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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283. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students at third level who, having previously qualified for maintenance grants, that no longer qualify as a result of reductions in the income threshold in Budget 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40990/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The income thresholds for student grants were reduced by 3% for the 2013/14 academic year. The changes to the income thresholds applies to all students, not just new entrants and existing students will be re-assessed by their grant awarding authority. It was estimated that some 6,400 (8%) of the total estimated grant recipients attending both further and higher education were expected to be affected by this change, and 220 of these, on the lowest level of grant support - 50% Student Contribution only - will lose their current entitlement altogether. The change does not affect Special Rate students, who are the most vulnerable category of students in receipt of grant support. The Deputy will appreciate that it is still very early stages in the application process for the academic year 2013-14 so the actual numbers are not yet available.