Student grants: Quinn gets legal advice

Education Minister Ruairi Quinn is seeking legal advice on whether councils can delay or withhold grants from students whose parents have not paid the household charge, but he still thinks it is reasonable for them to ask.

Clare County Council changed its position after the controversy arose on Tuesday and said it would not be using the information it received from students to prioritise or delay payment of grants. It had been indicating that students whose families had not paid the charge would face delays as others would be paid first.

South Tipperary Co Council had been planning to ask grant applicants for evidence the €100 charge was paid. But it said on Tuesday night that after getting advice, it had changed those plans.

Asked about the situation, Mr Quinn repeated his assertion that people should be paid up on their legal taxes if they expect to benefit from grants or other State funds.

But on the question of the legality of such questions by councils administering the grants scheme he funds, he said he was seeking advice.

Fianna Fáil Senator Averil Power suggested there could be considerable legal costs if a student were to challenge any council, as local authorities administer the scheme on Mr Quinn’s behalf.

Fine Gael TD Simon Harris said: “If this is going to be the rule, it should be on a legal basis. But if it isn’t, local authorities shouldn’t be taking the law unto themselves.”

The Data Protection Commissioner’s office told the Local Government Management Agency that councils could not use any information gathered in the processing of student grant applications to pursue non-payment of the household charge.