Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will clarify if a person (details supplied) has been awarded their Student Universal Support Ireland grant appeal, as it is unclear on the basis of two conflicting and upsetting communications this Deputy has received from SUSI; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7592/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Officials in my Department have been informed by Student Universal Support Ireland that the grant award letter that issued on the 28th January 2013 to the student referred to by the Deputy was sent in error.

The Deputy will appreciate that in the context of SUSI having received in excess of 67,000 applications that some errors may inevitably arise when handling a high volume of applications within a relatively short timeframe.

SUSI have confirmed that on review the grant has been refused and a letter outlining the position issued on the 8th February, 2013. If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a student grant, 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 the scheme has not been interpreted correctly in his/her case, an appeal form outlining the position may be submitted by the applicant to the independent Student Grants Appeals Board.