Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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200. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to proposed amendments to the 2011 legislation regarding student grants having been requested by Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas or officials in his Department in the past 12 months; his views on the legislation's shortcomings with regard to persons whose income has been affected by exchange rate fluctuations since the Brexit referendum; and his plans to make changes to the legislation in this regard. [25802/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The statutory based student grant scheme and regulations are reviewed annually by my Department, following consultation with various stakeholders. The Student Grant Scheme and Student Support Regulations for the 2017/18 academic year, were published on 31 March, 2017.

Student grant applications are means tested on gross income from all sources earned inside and outside the State within a specified reference period.

The Student Grant Scheme provides that where there is income in a currency other than euro, the euro equivalent of the gross amounts must be provided using the Central Bank of Ireland Annual Average exchange rates for the relevant year, thereby taking account of fluctuations that may occur over the specified reference period.

The current system of student supports is underpinned by the Student Support Act, 2011. My officials have recently commenced a review of this legislation to identify areas where the Act needs to be updated to reflect the changes that have taken place in Irish society and to ensure that supports are targeted effectively at those most in need. All relevant issues will be considered as part of this review.