Arthur Spring (Kerry North-West Limerick, Labour)
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Question 163: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a person (details supplied) in County Kerry is entitled to continue to receive his student grant from Kildare VEC and not have to reapply to Student Universal Support Ireland as a new applicant, considering the course that he initially commenced was dropped by Tralee IT; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35144/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The decision on eligibility for new student grant applications is a matter for the central grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland).

Under my Department's student grant scheme, students who are entering approved courses for the first time are eligible for grants where they satisfy the relevant conditions as to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means.

As the student referred to by the Deputy is commencing a new course in the academic year 2012/13 he is required to submit his grant application to SUSI via studentfinance.ie to have his eligibility for grant assistance assessed. Further information on student grants is available on the studentfinance.ie website.