Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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282. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will clarify the assessment of family tax credits from Northern Ireland as reckonable income in the assessment of student grants (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9564/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Schedule 2 of the Student Grant Scheme 2016 lists the eligible payments for the special rate of maintenance grant. As at 31 December 2015, the reckonable income must include one of the eligible payments listed in this Schedule, or its equivalent from a Member State.

The aim of the Child Tax Credits system in the UK/Northern Ireland is somewhat similar to the FIS payment i.e. it supports families on low incomes. However, the qualifying conditions for each payment are very different, so while there is not a direct correlation between the two payments, the Child Tax Credit is accepted as a qualifying payment for the special rate of grant.

Article 22(4) of the scheme also provides for certain payments that are classed as income disregards. Only those payments listed in the scheme can be treated as “income disregards”. The Child Tax Credit is not listed as an income disregard and is therefore assessed as reckonable income under the scheme.

If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a student grant or that the rate of grant awarded is not the correct one, she/he may appeal, in the first instance, to SUSI. Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down in writing by SUSI and remains of the view that the scheme has not been interpreted correctly in his/her case, an appeal form outlining the position may be submitted by the applicant to the independent Student Grants Appeals Board within the required timeframe.