Crowe Appalled At Household Stroke Tactics of Clare Council

For immediate release

September 18th, 2012 –

Dublin South West TD Seán Crowe said he is appalled at the stroke tactics of Clare County Council in seeking new proof from all Higher Education Grant applicants that, they or their families had actually paid the Household Charge before processing a Higher Education Grant Application.

Criticising Education Minister Ruairí Quinn who described the actions of the Clare County Council as “reasonable” and for suggesting other Councils might introduce a similar tactic; Crowe said he was confident that South Dublin County Council would not go down same route in penalising students.

Deputy Seán Crowe said :

“The decision by Clare County Council to vet Third Level applicants is likely to breach of the rights of applicants to be independently assessed for a grant. It is yet another “low blow” at coercing hard pressed families into paying a grossly unfair charge that many have withheld on a point of principle.

“This new tactic will inevitably drag out even longer the grant application process and create more uncertainty and worry for students and their families.

“Increasing numbers of Third Level students from low and middle income families already face significant barriers when attempting to access higher education and for Clare County Council to make the processing grants conditional on paying the Household Charge is not acceptable.

“In my opinion the actions of Clare County Council “are punitive, discriminatory and possibly illegal.”

“Local Government Minister Phil Hogan needs to reverse the cuts in the Local Government Fund, restore funding for local democracy and supplement the resources that will allow the provision of essential roll out of Council Services to citizens and hard pressed communities.

“The Minister for Environment introduced the doomed Household Charge and then followed this by cutting local government funding, forcing local authority officials to demand proof from College grant applicants that their families paid the Household Charge.

I am confident that the latest actions of Clare County Council are not only punitive but probably illegal. The Education Grant Applicant is not responsible for payment of the household charge therefore cannot be punished for its non-payment. The information sought is an irrelevant consideration.

“Where is this actually leading and what is the next step? Questions on parking fines or was the TV licence paid.”

“I am confident that the action of Clare County Council’s would be deemed unlawful in any fair judgement on this matter and will not be followed by other Councils like South Dublin.”