Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland
EDUCATION
Made
31st August 1999
Coming into operation
1st September 1999
The Department of Education, in exercise of the powers conferred on it by Articles 3 and 8(4) of the Education (Student Support) (Northern Ireland) Order 1998(1) hereby makes the following Regulations:
1. These Regulations may be cited as the Education (Student Support) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999 and shall come into operation on 1st September 1999.
2. The Education (Student Support) Regulations 1999(2) shall be amended as provided in Regulations 3 to 13.
3. In regulation 10(1)—
(a)in sub-paragraph (c) the word “and” shall be deleted;
(b)at the end of sub-paragraph (d) for the full stop there shall be substituted a semi-colon and after the semi-colon the word “and” shall be inserted; and
(c)after sub-paragraph (d) the following sub-paragraph shall be inserted—
“(e)fees which are prescribed under paragraph (e) of the definition of “fees” in Article 2(2) of the Order.”.
4. In regulation 11—
(a)the existing provisions of the regulation shall be renumbered as Regulation 11(1); and
(b)after that paragraph the following paragraph shall be inserted—
“(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1) an institution which provides courses designated by regulation 4 of the Education (Student Support) (Dance and Drama) Regulations 1999(3) shall not be regarded as maintained or assisted by recurrent grants out of public funds by reason only that it receives public funds from the governing body of a higher education institution in accordance with section 65(3A) of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992(4).”
5. Regulation 12(1) shall be deleted.
6.—(1) In regulation 15(1) after the words “eligible student” the words “who satisfies the requirements set out in regulation 17(1)” shall be inserted.
(2) For Regulation 15(2) there shall be substituted the following paragraph—
“(2) The aggregate amount of grant under paragraph (1) shall be reduced by the difference between—
(a)the aggregate of the net income of each of the eligible student’s dependants whose net income does not exceed a maximum amount applicable under paragraph (1), if any, and
(b)£905 multiplied by the number of such dependants.”.
(3) In regulation 15(7) and (9) for the words “instalments of grant are paid” there shall be substituted in each case the words “support is payable”.
7. In regulation 16(1) after the words “eligible student” the words “who satisfies the requirements set out in regulation 17(1)” shall be inserted.
8.—(1) In regulation 18(6) for the words “instalments of loans are payable” there shall be substituted the words “support is payable”.
(2) In regulation 18(8) for the words “instalments of loan are paid” there shall be substituted the words “support is payable”.
(3) For regulation 18(13) there shall be substituted the following paragraphs—
“(13) Where in relation to an academic year an eligible student is not eligible for a grant for living costs by virtue of regulation 12(3)(a) and (b) he shall be eligible for a loan for living costs under this regulation but—
(a)in paragraphs (1) and (2) there shall be substituted for any amount in column one below the amount specified opposite thereto in column two—
| £ | £ |
|---|---|
| 2,875 | 1,360 |
| 4,480 | 2,200 |
| 4,440 | 1,780 |
| 5,275 | 1,780 |
| 3,635 | 1,780 |
| 2,510 | 995 |
| 3,885 | 1,605 |
| 3,865 | 1,295 |
| 4,590 | 1,295 |
| 3,150 | 1,295 |
and
(b)paragraphs (10) and (12) shall not apply.
(14) Where in relation to an academic year an eligible student is not eligible for a grant for living costs by virtue of regulation 12(3)(c) or 12(4) he shall be eligible for a loan for living costs under this regulation but—
(a)in paragraphs (1) and (2) there shall be substituted for the amounts in column one below the corresponding amounts in column two—
| £ | £ |
|---|---|
| 2,875 | 1,360 |
| 4,480 | 2,200 |
| 4,440 | 2,180 |
| 5,275 | 2,590 |
| 3,635 | 1,780 |
| 2,510 | 995 |
| 3,885 | 1,605 |
| 3,865 | 1,595 |
| 4,590 | 1,895 |
| 3,150 | 1,295 |
and
(b)paragraphs (10) and (12) shall not apply.”.
9. In regulation 19(7) for the words “who has received at least one instalment of a loan under this Part in respect of an academic year has not applied for” there shall be substituted the words “has applied for a loan less than”.
10.—(1) For regulation 20(2) there shall be substituted the following paragraph—
“(2) A hardship loan shall be £100 or a multiple thereof not exceeding £500.”
(2) In regulation 20(4) delete the words “On being satisfied that due to exceptional financial hardship an eligible student may not be able to continue to attend a course to which a loan under this part relates for the remaining part of the academic year in question”.
11.—(1) In regulation 24(2) the words “no instalment” shall be deleted and after the following word “shall” the word “not” shall be inserted.
(2) After the end of paragraphs (5) and (6) of regulation 24 the following words shall, in each case, be added—
“; and the amount of such support for the academic year shall be the aggregate of the support, if any, which is payable in respect of each quarter.”.
(3) In regulation 24(7) for the word “instalment” there shall be substituted the word “support”.
(4) After regulation 24(11) the following paragraphs shall be added—
“(12) Notwithstanding the above paragraphs, where—
(a)support referred to in paragraph (2) is payable in respect of a period of attendance at an overseas institution; and
(b)the Department considers that payment of the support in instalments in accordance with the above paragraphs may prejudice his admission to the overseas country or institution;
he may pay the support in such instalments, if any, as he considers appropriate.
(13) Notwithstanding the above paragraphs where the periods of attendance for a course are such that the payment of instalments during the quarters in respect of which the support is payable may cause the eligible student hardship the Department may pay the instalments at such other times as it considers appropriate.
(14) Notwithstanding the above paragraphs where by reason of the absence of the student—
(a)support referred to in paragraph (2) is reduced in accordance with paragraph (6); and
(b)the Department considers that the payment of such support in accordance with the above paragraphs would be inappropriate
it may pay such support in such number of instalments and in instalments of such amounts as it considers appropriate.”.
12. In paragraph 7 of Schedule 1 after the words “European Community” the words “or the child of such a national” shall be inserted.
13.—(1) In paragraph 1 of Schedule 3—
(a)at the end of sub-paragraph (1)(a) the words “in each case other than any sum treated as income under sub-paragraph (5) shall be added”;
(b)in sub-paragraph (1)(f)—
(i)after the word “disability” the words “or incapacity” shall be inserted; and
(ii)there shall be deleted the words after the words “is subject”;
(c)in sub-paragraph (1)(r) for the words “disability to which the eligible student is subject, his” there shall be substituted the words “the eligible student's”.
(2) In paragraph 3(1)(a) of Schedule 3 delete the word “first” where it appears on the second occasion.
(3) In paragraph 6 of Schedule 3 the existing sub-paragraph (2)(h) shall be renumbered sub-paragraph (2)(i) and in the appropriate places in the same sub-paragraph there shall be inserted the following—
“(h)in the case of a parent who is an eligible student or who holds a statutory award, £890;
(j)where the parent’s income is computed as for the purposes of the income tax legislation of another member State, sums equivalent to any amounts which would not be treated as taxable income if that legislation made provision equivalent to the Income Tax Acts.”.
Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Education on
L.S.
Neill Jackson
Assistant Secretary
31st August 1999.
(This note is not part of the Regulations.)
These Regulations, made under the Student Support (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 (“the Order”), come into operation on 1st September 1999. They amend the Education (Student Support) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999 (“the Student Support Regulations”).
Fees in respect of which support is payable may not include fees which are not subject to a cap under Article 2(2) of the Order (regulation 10(1) of the Student Support Regulations). Provision is made to ensure that support cannot be paid in respect of fees which are prescribed as not being subject to the cap under Article 2(2)(e) of the Order (regulation 3).
Provision has been made to ensure that institutions whose courses are designated by the Education (Student Support) (Dance and Drama) Regulations 1999 and who receive public funds indirectly from institutions within the higher education sector pursuant to arrangements under section 65(3A) of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 will continue to attract fee support for their students at the private sector rate (regulation 4).
Students over the age of 55 were previously not eligible for grants for living costs (regulation 12(1) of the Student Support Regulations). The paragraph has been deleted, and the exclusion inserted in relation only to grants for dependants and grants for travel. This ensures that disabled students will be eligible for grants for certain expenditure regardless of their age (regulation 5, 6(1) and 7).
Regulation 15(2) of the Student Support Regulations has been replaced (regulation 6(2)). The aggregate grant for dependants is reduced by the figure representing the aggregate of the income of all the student’s dependants other than those whose income exceeds specified maxima minus the number of those dependants multiplied by £905.
Regulation 18(13) of the Student Support Regulations has been replaced (regulation 8). Students receiving means tested National Health Service bursaries are eligible for loans for living costs at approximately half the full rate, but are not eligible for enhanced rates when studying overseas at high or higher costs countries. They, and other students who are eligible for loans for living costs at approximately half the full rate, are not eligible for loans for extra weeks' attendance.
Regulation 19(7) of the Student Support Regulations has been amended to allow a student to apply for an increased amount of loan at any time after he has made a first application, not just after he has received the first instalment of his loan (regulation 9).
Regulation 20 of the Student Support Regulations has been amended so that students may receive hardship loans which are £100 or any multiple of £100 up to £500 (regulation 10(1)). The only criterion now applied in determining the loan the student should have is hardship (regulation 10(2)).
The provision of the Student Support Regulations requiring the payment of dependants' grants and loans for living costs in instalments have been qualified. Where the student is attending an overseas institution it will now be possible to consider payments in different numbers of instalments, and where the pattern of the student’s attendance is unusual it will be possible to consider payments at different times. Where support is reduced as a result of non-attendance it will be possible to pay fewer instalments or instalments of differing amounts depending on the length and nature of the absence (regulation 11(4)).
Paragraph 7 of Schedule 1 to the Student Support Regulations has been amended to ensure that not only a national of a European Community member State but a child of such a national is eligible for support for fees on the same basis as a United Kingdom national (regulation 12).
Provision has been made to ensure that income treated as part of the income of an eligible student who is a parent under paragraph 1(5) of Schedule 3 is not disregarded under paragraph 1(1)(a) when determining his income (regulation 13(1)(a)).
Paragraph 1(f) of Schedule 3 to the Student Support Regulations has been amended so that all disability and incapacity related benefits, taxable or not, are disregarded in determining the student’s income (regulation 13(1)(b)). As a consequence reference to disability in paragraph 1(r) of Schedule 3 has been deleted (regulation 13(1)(c)).
In determining a parental contribution to a student’s support, additional income of the parent is to be disregarded. Where the student himself is eligible for support £890 shall be disregarded, and where the income is computed as for the purposes of the income tax legislation of another EU member State any income which is taxable in that State but would not be taxable in the United Kingdom may be disregarded (regulation 13(3)).
1992 c. 13; section 65(3A) was inserted by section 27 of the Teaching and Higher Education Act 1998 (c. 30)