Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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90. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason non-recurring overtime is regarded in determining the qualification for a third-level student grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10091/19]

Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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91. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the provisions of the student grant scheme that determine the definition of non-recurring overtime by the student grant appeals board (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10093/19]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 90 and 91 together.

Under the terms of the Student Grant Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means.

The assessment of means under the Student Grant Scheme is based on gross income from all sources. However, Article 22(5)(e) of the Scheme provides that overtime payments may be excluded from the calculation of reckonable income for student grant purposes where it is established by the applicant to the satisfaction of the awarding authority or in this instance, the Student Grants Appeals Board (SGAB), that the overtime is non-recurring.

The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the centralised awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) to determine or on appeal by the statutory independent SGAB.