Third Level Grant Eligibility Must Reflect Farm Income Drop
The Chairman of the IFA Farm Business Committee, James Kane, said that many farm families will be unfairly treated if the income assessment for third level education grants is based solely on 2008. He said that the assessment system is much more flexible for PAYE families where they can demonstrate that their incomes are down in the current year.
James Kane said: “Farm families are already discriminated against particularly because capital allowances and interest paid on capital expenditure cannot be deducted in calculating the reckonable income.
“The ‘change of circumstances’ clause which applies to the PAYE sector must also apply to farmers in the current farm income crisis. IFA is proposing that where a farmer obtains a letter from Teagasc indicating that a significant reduction in income between 2008 and 2009 is inevitable, this factor should be taken into account in assessing the farm family means. Also, there should be a commitment for a review after a year, when full income tax returns for 2009 are available.”
James Kane added that IFA is writing to the Minister for Education, Batt O’Keeffe TD, on this proposal.