Taoiseach plays down Coalition divisions over any changes to grants

TAOISEACH ENDA Kenny yesterday attempted to play down divisions between Fine Gael and Labour over proposed changes to the college grant system which may take farm ownership into account.

Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn’s proposal to broaden the means test for third-level student grants to include capital assets in addition to income has drawn criticism from farming groups and Fine Gael figures.

Mr Kenny said while the Coalition partners might have a difference of emphasis and opinion, there could be “no personal views” when it came to such matters.

“There are no personal views in regard to matters about the budget. This is a matter which will be discussed by the Cabinet, and the Cabinet will make its decision in due course and will announce it.”

Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney and other Fine Gael TDs have expressed opposition to farm assets being included in any new assessment arrangements, while the Labour Party’s chairman, Colm Keaveney, has pushed for change.

Mr Quinn will receive an expert working group’s report on capital assets shortly.

Mr Kenny said Fine Gael and Labour had agreed a programme for government when asked about the controversy yesterday.

“We need to get our deficit down to certain levels by 2015. That’s going to require some challenging decisions to be taken for 2013 and 2014, and the Government will do that collectively as a Government.

“And while you may have difference of emphasis about approaches to issues, once the Government makes a decision that’s it. We will deal with those decisively and collectively as a Government.”

He was speaking after the annual Béal na mBláth commemoration in west Cork yesterday.

“People love to have divisions and maybe they would like to see Ministers at each other’s throats and all the rest of it.

“The point here is this: you can have differences of opinion, differences of emphasis about the approach to a matter, but as far as I’m concerned we will deal with all of the issues relevant to the 2013 budget as a Government.

“And we will discuss those internally at the Cabinet. There are no personal decisions or personal views. It’s a collective decision that will arise from that, and we will deal with it as a Government.

“People will have the opportunity to have their say and plenty of it when that time comes.”