The Finance Minister has denied that there is any rift between Fine Gael and Labour over controversial proposals to the student grant system.

The Education Minister and Labour TD Ruairi Quinn says he plans to change the means test for the 3rd-level grant.

It could mean farmland and business assets being included in the test for the first time.

But the Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney and many Fine Gael backbench TDs are said to be against the move.

It is likely to mean that thousands of children from farming families will no longer qualify for a grant.

An expert group is currently examining the proposals.

Minister Michael Noonan says he will wait for its findings before commenting further.