Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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535. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will change the rules in relation to the situation whereby a person in a part-time job may receive a third level maintenance grant but a one-parent family person with a child over seven years of age whose payment is classified as back to education allowance cannot receive a third level grant; the reason she is discriminating against one-parent families while persons on higher incomes can receive a third level grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9394/15]

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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536. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on changing the rules for eligibility for third level maintenance grants, paid by Student Universal Support Ireland, whereby a person who had already commenced a course is now informed that, because that person's child is over seven years of age, the person is no longer entitled to the one-parent family payment, and therefore must go on the back-to-education allowance, which means the person cannot get a maintenance grant; if she will review this matter for persons who commenced courses, as persons had a legitimate expectation that there would not be a change during the course of their study; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9395/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 535 and 536 together.

Following a Budget 2010 decision, all new applicants in receipt of the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA), and the VTOS allowances for those pursuing PLC courses, are no longer eligible for maintenance support under the student grant scheme. However, students who qualify for the BTEA may be considered for support for the student contribution under the student grant scheme provided they satisfy the conditions of the relevant Student Grant Scheme and Student Support Regulations including those relating to residence, nationality, approved course, previous academic attainment and means.

As the Deputy will be aware, reform of the eligibility rules governing the One Parent Family Payment, in particular the reduction of the age of the youngest child for receipt of such payment to seven years of age, is a matter for the Department of Social Protection. My officials are liaising with their counterparts in the Department of Social Protection to identify implications for transitioning recipients of the One Parent Family Payment and the eligibility requirements of my Department's Student Grant Scheme.