Written answers
Wednesday, 20 September 2023
Department of Education and Skills
Third Level Education
Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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1083. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he is aware of the constraints on the children of certain categories of visa holders, including stamp 3 visa holders, who are often the children of critical skills visa holders working in the healthcare sector, given that these children, who have completed their Leaving Certificate, are now excluded from grant aid under SUSI, are unable to avail of certain QQI level 5 courses given the 150 hours' work experience requirement of same which they are unable to complete due to their visa restrictions; the proposals, if any, which he has put to the Department of Justice to resolve these issues; his views on the impact that this may have on attracting critical skills workers to the Irish economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40307/23]
Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Under the terms of the Student Grant Scheme, a student must be ordinarily resident in Ireland or an EU/EEA/Swiss/UK for at least three of the five years preceding their entry to an approved third level course.
Where undergraduate students do not qualify for free fees funding they must pay the appropriate fee, either EU or Non-EU, as determined by each higher education institution. Higher education institutions are autonomous bodies and therefore the criteria governing the level of fee payable by students (EU or non-EU) is a matter for the relevant institution to determine in line with its own criteria.
The nationality requirements for the Student Grant Scheme are set out in Section 14 of the Student Support Act 2011 and Regulation 5 of the Student Support Regulations 2023. To qualify for a student grant, the candidate's nationality or his/her immigration status in the State determines whether or not he/she meets the nationality requirement outlined in the Act and Regulations. Further information in relation to the nationality requirements are available from SUSI's website: susi.ie/nationality-criteria/.
Permission to remain in the State on the basis of a Stamp 3 Visa does not meet the nationality requirements of the Student Grant Scheme 2023. However, article 32 of the Student Grant Scheme 2023 provides for a review of eligibility for the award of a grant in the event of a change of circumstances in the academic year, including a change in relation to a student's nationality or immigration status. Where a student acquires Irish citizenship by naturalisation, or is granted one of the permission to remain criterion provided for in the Act or Regulations during the course of their studies, he/she may apply to SUSI to have his/her application re-assessed.
My Department continues to liaise on an ongoing basis with officials in the Department of Justice on the various categories of immigration status in the context of student grant eligibility.
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