Sinn Féin County Councillor Jack Murray has welcomed confirmation from An Taoiseach Enda Kenny that there is no legal standing in the threats made by some councils in Ireland to withdraw third-level grants from students because of their family’s non-payment of the household charge.
Cllr Murray had previously written to Donegal County Council’s Manager and Director of Finance, outlining the legal opinion that Sinn Féin had received on the matter in order to prevent such letters being issued in Donegal.
“The Taoiseach has admitted in the Dáil, in response to questioning from Brian Stanley TD, that local authorities have no legal standing to threaten to withhold student grants because their families have not paid the unjust household charge.
“Following, threats from Clare and South Tipperary County Councils to withhold student grants, Sinn Féin stated that we had received a legal opinion indicating that local authorities have no basis to block or to stall a grant application for third-level fees. The argument of tax compliance has no basis. Nearly half (48%) of commercial water rates remain uncollected yet the children of the owners and shareholders are not singled out for punishment.
“Despite this being made clear, Ministers Ruairí Quinn and Phil Hogan persisted in encouraging councils across the state to take a similar approach to County Clare.
“It is totally unacceptable for government ministers to encourage local authorities to employ such blatant bullyboy tactics in their attempt to force people to pay the Household Charge.
“I am glad that the Taoiseach has now confirmed that local authorities are not entitled to withhold payment of grants. This will come as a relief to many students and their families in Donegal.”
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