COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

south dublin county council crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, June 14, 2010

Headed Item No. 16b)

HIGHER EDUCATION  GRANTS SCHEME 2010

The Higher Education Grants Scheme provides financial assistance to eligible students in approved third level colleges and all applications are means tested.  

During the 2009/2010 academic year just concluded approximately 1,200 students were grant assisted in respect of Maintenance and/or Fees and a total amount of € 4.6 million was paid out in Higher Education Grants during the 2009 financial year.  The value of awards made is recoupable from the  Department of Education and Skills.

The 2010 Higher Education Grants Scheme was issued by the Department of Education & Science on 24th May 2010.   Adoption of the scheme is a reserved function of the Council.

The following is a summary of the changes to the 2010  Student Maintenance Grant Schemes

Reckonable Income limits : The income limits for entitlement to all rates of support are to remain unchanged for students in receipt of the standard rates of grant. The income thresholds for families where two or more children are pursuing a course of study listed in the schemes also remain unchanged from the 2009 schemes.

The annual income threshold for the special rate of maintenance grant is being increased from €22,308 to €22,703 in line with the relevant social welfare comparators in order to ensure that students from families on the lowest incomes continue to qualify for maximum rates of grant.

 Rates of Grant : The current rates, as announced in Budget 2010, will continue to apply up to the end of 2010.    Since 2008, the rates of student grant are considered as part of the annual Budget process in common with other welfare and income support measures. Therefore, any adjustment in the rates of student grant from January 2011 will be considered in the context of the forthcoming Budget.

 Student Service Charge & Maximum Fee Limit :    The Student Service Charge  (Registration Fee) is to remain unchanged - up to a maximum of €1,500.  To date, no increase is approved for the maximum fee limit.  If the maximum fee limit changes, the Department will issue formal notification by means of circular letter.

Terms and conditions of the Schemes:     

  1. Some social welfare allowances, including the Back to Education Allowance and the One Parent Family Payment (except where paid to the candidate) which had previously been excluded in the means-testing process, will  now be included as reckonable income in assessing eligibility for student grants.
  2. The income tax adjustment for farm stock relief will be disregarded in calculating reckonable income for means-testing purposes.
  3. The residency requirement in the State for grant eligibility will be increased  from one year to three out of the past five years for the student.
  4. The duration of the break in studies required for re-entry as an independently assessed mature student will be increased from one year to three years.
  5. Wording in respect of certain categories in the Nationality clause have been updated.
  6. There have been changes in relation to the time limits for making an appeal.
  7. In addition, as previously announced in the Budget, from September 2010 all new applicants who are in receipt of the Back to Education Allowance for all schemes, and the VTOS allowances for those pursuing PLC     courses, will be ineligible for maintenance grants.

It is now before the members to formally approve the 2010 Higher Education Grants Scheme