Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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719. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if earnings paid in universal social charge will be disregarded as gross income in the higher education means testing system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14595/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The means test arrangements of the Student Grant Scheme are applied nationally on the same basis to both employed and self-employed applicants. Gross income before the deduction of income tax or universal social charge, is assessed with certain specified social welfare and Health Service Executive payments excluded.

The assessment of income from the same starting point is deemed to be fair and reasonable because this approach eliminates any distortion which might arise from different spending decisions in different households.

In the interest of equity, I have no plans to change the current arrangement.