Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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61. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if, in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 22 who was previously refused higher education grant on the basis of their residency status and who became an Irish citizen in 2012, the previous the decision prevents them from ever qualifying for higher education grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24979/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter for the relevant grant awarding authority.

The Deputy will appreciate that in the absence of all of the relevant details that would be contained in an individual's application form, including those relating to residency and or nationality, it would not be possible for me to say whether or not a student would qualify for a grant.

The nationality requirements for the student grant scheme are set out in section 14 of the Student Support Act and regulation 5 of the Student Support Regulations. It is the student, and not his parents, that must meet the nationality requirements in his own right to qualify for a student grant.

The student grant scheme provides that a student's eligibility may be assessed or re-assessed in the event of a change in circumstances in relation to, inter alia, reckonable income, the number of dependant children, and nationality or immigration status. A student can apply to the assessing authority to be assessed or re-assessed for grant assistance.

The applicant in question should contact their grant awarding authority to confirm the position in relation to their eligibility for the grant.