Farmers oppose plan to ‘asset test’ parents of students

STUDENTS and farmers have expressed outrage at Government plans to “asset test” the parents of college participants and vowed to oppose the proposal.

A report presented to Cabinet — to be released next week — is expected to recommend that families whose children apply for grants should have their assets as well as their income assessed.

Such a move is expected to affect farming families, the self employed and professionals whose children already rely on state-backed third-level grants.

The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) said it was concerned about the reported plan.

USI president Gary Redmond said: “We’re very worried about any hint of an asset test. They’re looking at penalising people who may be asset rich with properties and land but actually have low incomes. It will affect the self employed and the fact is there will be more people in the end who won’t be able to go to college because they won’t get the grants.”

A spokeswomen for Education Minister Mary Coughlan last night said the third-level strategy report would be released next Tuesday but refused to comment further.

One of the report’s central points is that there is an absence of any consideration of assets and wealth in the current means test system and that this limits the targeting and saving of resources for the state.

It is understood the report also suggests that the means assessment model be changed and linked to the reintroduction of fees as well as a new loans system for students.

But farmers last night also vowed to oppose any “asset test” of their members warning that many families were already struggling on low incomes.

IFA deputy president Eddie Downey said up to 60% of the IFA’s 100,000 members were possibly on low incomes. Many farming families, who had land and properties, were only earning between €12,000 and €17,000 a year: “We are very shocked at this proposal. It should remain based on one’s income and their ability to send their children to college.”