Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 180: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the administration of the higher education grant scheme under particular circumstances (details supplied). [7675/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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In recognition of the fact that a student under 23 yeas of age can be estranged from his/her parents, it is possible under the student grant schemes, as an exceptional measure, for such a candidate to be assessed without reference to his/her parents'/guardian's income or address. However, compelling independent evidence of estrangement must be provided to the grant awarding authority to enable this. The type of independent evidence includes a letter from a social worker or other appropriate officer of the Health Service Executive explaining the circumstances of the estrangement. Confirmation that a candidate is living separately from his/her parents/guardians is not sufficient.

A decision on grant eligibility is a matter for a candidate's local grant awarding authority in the first instance. To help avoid delays in processing her grant application, the candidate in question is advised to contact her grant awarding authority to discuss this issue and to make sure that the relevant supporting documentation is submitted with her grant application.