Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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785. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will address a matter (details supplied) regarding a Student Universal Support Ireland grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28686/15]

Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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812. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views, in light of the significant change to net pay with the specific introduction of pension contributions, that the gross pay of Public Servants is still used to determine qualification for a third-level grant for the child of a Public Servant, and whether this fact has been factored into the determination of the financial thresholds for qualification; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28983/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 785 and 812 together.

The rates of grant and the income thresholds for the Student Grant Scheme are announced annually as part of the Budget. No changes to the rates or thresholds were included in Budget 2015.

The means test arrangements of the Student Grant Scheme are applied nationally. In the case of both employed and self-employed applicants gross income, before deduction of income tax or universal social charge, is assessed with certain specified social welfare and health service executive payments excluded. Therefore, all income is assessed from the same starting point, eliminating any distortion which might arise from different spending decisions.

Contributions to pension schemes and pension or retirement products, within the limits allowed by the Revenue Commissioners, are deducted in determining the reckonable income of an applicant as set out in the Student Grant Scheme 2015.