Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)
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360. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a peson (details supplied) in County Kerry attending Queen's University, Belfast, was told that they were not entitled to assistance under the Student Grant Scheme as they were attending a course outside the State, when the rules clearly state that Queen's is one of the qualifying colleages in the North of Ireland; and if he will ensure that this is not happening to other students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35019/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The Deputy is correct in stating that full-time postgraduate courses of not less than one year duration in Queen's University, Belfast are approved under the Student Grant Scheme. I understand that the grant application from the student in question was unsuccessful and that she appealed this decision to the appeals officer in Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) who upheld the original decision as the reckonable income was over the limit for a postgraduate grant. Where an appeal is turned down in writing by SUSI and the applicant remains of the view that the scheme has not been interpreted correctly in his or her case, an appeal form outlining the position may be submitted by the applicant to the independent Student Grants Appeals Board.