Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will qualify for the higher education grant despite being found ineligible under Article 15(7)(c)(i) of the student grant scheme as they had to take a year out from study due to medical reasons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38901/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The decision on eligibility for new student grant applications from the 2012/13 academic year is a matter for the centralised grant awarding authority, Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), a division of the City of Dublin VEC. If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a student grant, or that the rate of grant awarded is not the correct one, she/he may appeal, in the first instance, to SUSI. Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down in writing by SUSI and remains of the view that SUSI has not interpreted the scheme correctly in his/her case, an appeal form outlining the position may be submitted by the applicant to the independent Student Grant Appeals Board. The relevant appeal form will be available on request from SUSI.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the options available to persons (details supplied) in County Kildare to obtain student finance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38967/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The decision on eligibility for new student grant applications from the 2012/13 academic year is a matter for the new centralised grant awarding authority, SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland). The Deputy will appreciate that in the absence of all of the relevant details that would be contained in an individual's application form and supporting documentation, it would not be possible for me to say whether or not a student should qualify for a maintenance grant. If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a student grant, or that the rate of grant awarded is not the correct one, she/he may appeal, in the first instance, to SUSI. Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down, in writing, by SUSI, and remains of the view that SUSI has not interpreted the scheme correctly in his/her case, an appeal form outlining the position may be submitted by the applicant to the independent Student Grant Appeals Board. The relevant appeal form will be available on request from SUSI.