Concern raised over third level grants

Added: 10-08-2012

A Donegal Deputy is calling on the Minister for Education, Ruairi Quinn to clarify whether capital assets will be included in means tests for third-level student grants.

Earlier this year Minister Quinn stated he would like to broaden the means test to include capital assets in addition to income as he said this would create a more equitable basis for testing.

The IFA and the ICMSA, have contended it would be farmers who would be most affected if farms were included as an asset in means testing.

The Department of Education says no proposals or recommendations have been made by the Capital Asset Implementation Group and indicated it was premature for a public debate on a decision that had not yet been made.

Deputy McConalogue says students deserve to have the reassurance that they will not end up losing the grant.