Anthony Lawlor (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason Student Universal Support Ireland failed to inform a person (details supplied) upon application for a grant that the income threshold had been lowered for post graduates in 2012; the reason SUSI was allowed to persistently seek further information from the applicant for a number of months despite the fact that their initial application should have indicated that the household income exceeded the limit; in view of the application refusal, the financial supports that are now available for this person in view of the fact that they are well into their postgraduate course without adequate financial resources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52748/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The Deputy will appreciate that in the context of Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) having received in excess of 66,000 applications that some errors may inevitably arise when handling a high volume of applications within a relatively short timeframe. While every effort is made by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) to ensure that applicants are not put through the application process unnecessarily, SUSI regrets in this instance that this was the case and regrets the unnecessary time lost by the applicant.

The student may be eligible for tax relief on their tuition fees. Details on this relief are available at www.revenue.ie.

Support is available to students under the Student Assistance Fund which assists students in third-level institutions in exceptional financial need. Information on the fund is available through the Access Officer in the third level institution attended. The Access Officers themselves will also continue to provide support and advice to students to enable them to continue with their studies.