MINISTER DEFENDS RESTRUCTURING OF THIRD LEVEL GRANT ASSESSMENT

Date Published: 16-Aug-2012

The Education Minister says proposals to change grant assessment for next year's batch of third level students is not about punishing any one section of community.

GMIT and NUI Galway student union representatives are not happy with the plans, which propose that farmland and business assets be included in the means test.

The Irish Farmers Association is also unhappy with the proposed changes to the assesment, which is currently based on parents income, interest on savings and dividends.

A Capital Asset Team has been convened to develop proposals for the means test and will make a report to Minister Quinn this Autumn.

There will be no changes to the means test terms for student grants this year, but the plan is to amend the test for the 2012/2013 academic year.

Speaking to Galway Bay fm News, Minister Quinn says the reforms aim to produce a fairer system.