Farmers say the introduction of a means test for college grants that includes assets will deny access to higher education to many students from low income farm families.

President of the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) John Bryan said the calculations being used are deeply flawed. He says if Education Minister Ruairi Quinn proceeds with the proposal, then he will deny many students the chance to get a 3rd-level qualification.

IFA promises opposition to measures

Mr. Bryan says the IFA will mount a vigorous campaign of opposition to the system that is being proposed.

"The proposed threshold of €750,000 would buy a 75-acre farm. Depending on location, soil type and enterprise, it is ludicrous to suggest that every farm makes an income of over €40,000" he said.

"Whatever model was used to arrive at this, it bears no relation to reality. Equally, the implied income figures for any farm with a valuation over this threshold do not stand up to scrutiny".

"The introduction of an asset test that includes productive assets, such as farmland, will deny access to higher education to many students from low-income self-employed families. This will not be tolerated by IFA" he added.