IFA HITS OUT AT STUDENT GRANT ASSESSMENT PROPOSALS

Date Published: 08-Aug-2012

The Irish Farmers Association says a proposal to include Galway farmland in a new means test for student grants, is unworkable.

IFA's Roy O'Brien says the logistics involved in the valuation of land would be extremely difficult to implement and that a means test should be based on net bottom line profit.

The assessment is currently based on parents income, interest on savings and dividends.

Students receive a grant of over three thousand euro a year if they are living far away from home and a grant of over 1 thousand 200 if they are resident nearby.

Under the proposals, business premises would also be assessed.

Speaking on Galway Talks, Regional IFA Officer Roy O'Brien says the unworkable logistics need to be seriously thought out.