Education (Student Support) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003

Parental contribution

4.—(1) In any case in which the residual income is £20,970 or more the parental contribution shall subject to sub-paragraphs (2) to (6) be £45 with the addition of £1 for every complete £12·50 by which the residual income exceeds £20,970, reduced in each case in respect of each child of the parent (other than the eligible student) who is wholly or mainly financially dependent on him on the first day of the year for which the contribution falls to be ascertained, by £83; and in any case in which the residual income is less than £20,970 the parental contribution shall be nil.

(2) For the purposes of this paragraph –

(a)the amount or (where a contribution is ascertained in respect of more than one child of the eligible student’s parent) the aggregate amount of the parental contribution shall in no case exceed £7,353; and

(b)where a contribution is ascertained in respect of more than one child of the eligible student’s parent the aggregate of the contributions shall not exceed the contribution that would be ascertained if only one child held an award or, if that amount is different in respect of each child, the lower or (as the case may be) lowest such amount.

(3) For any year in which a statutory award other than one referred to in sub-paragraph (4) is held by –

(a)more than one child of the eligible student’s parent;

(b)the parent; or

(c)the student’s step-parent,

the parental contribution in respect of the eligible student shall be such proportion of any contribution ascertained in accordance with this Part as the Department (after consultation with any other authority involved) considers just.

(4) For any year in which a statutory award under these Regulations, the Education (Students Awards) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002(1), the 1986 Order or section 63 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968 but no other statutory award is held by –

(a)more than one child of the eligible student’s parent;

(b)his parent; or

(c)his step-parent,

the parental contribution in respect of the eligible student shall subject to sub-paragraphs (5) and (6) be such proportion of any contribution ascertained in accordance with this Part as is equal to the proportion in respect of the other or (as the case may be) each other statutory award holder.

(5) Subject to sub-paragraph (6), if by apportioning the parental contribution in accordance with sub-paragraph (4) it would not all apply to statutory awards and one or more statutory award holders would hold any statutory award to which it could have applied but for the apportionment, the parental contribution shall instead apply –

(a)first to the statutory award of (or as the case may be) each statutory award holder eligible for the smallest aggregate amount of statutory award to which the contribution may apply, and

(b)then to the statutory award of the remaining statutory award holder or, if there is more than one remaining statutory award holder, equally to the statutory award of each.

(6) If by apportioning the parental contribution equally in accordance with sub-paragraph (5)(b) –

(a)it would not all apply, and

(b)one or more remaining statutory award holders would hold any statutory award to which it could have applied but for the apportionment

it shall instead apply first to the statutory award of (or as the case may be) each remaining statutory award holder eligible for the next smallest aggregate amount of statutory award to which it may apply until the balance can be apportioned equally without any remaining statutory award holder holding any statutory award to which it could have applied but for the apportionment.