Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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794. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a refusal of a Student Universal Support Ireland grant to students (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1006/16]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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Assessment of means under my Department 's student grant scheme is based on gross income from all sources of the applicant and his/her parent(s)/legal guardian, where applicable, with certain social welfare and health service executive payments being exempt.

It is necessary, therefore, that information regarding all income, including that from after school/weekend employment, is accounted for when completing the grant application form. However, in the assessment of means, allowance is made for "holiday earnings" on the part of the applicant and accordingly a deduction is allowed for reasonable holiday earnings i.e. income earned by the applicant from employment outside of term time but within the reference period. A maximum deduction of €3,809 may be applied to student earnings outside of term time but within the reference period.

I have no plans to change the current arrangements.