Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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316. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will ensure that the Student Universal Support Ireland website clearly states that under the student grant scheme, PLC students are only entitled to maintenance grants in order to save people applying when they are not eligible as their family income is over €45,790 for a family of fewer than four children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37634/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I understand from Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the SUSI website provides general guidance to students of different classes who may be considering applying for a grant and also provides specific information where it is relevant to the majority of grant applicants in any class. All applicants are advised to refer to the relevant terms of the student grants scheme and to other sources of official guidance and information about the scheme before considering whether they should apply for a grant.

The Student Grant Scheme 2013 (Part 2, Section 8(2)) provides that fee grants are not payable in respect of PLC (post leaving certificate) courses. Maintenance grants are however payable in respect of such courses and the amount paid varies according to income and other criteria but is subject to a maximum income limit as the Deputy has highlighted. Thus PLC course participants whose income exceeds this limit are not eligible for any grant assistance while higher education course participants may continue to be eligible for fee grants at income levels above this limit.

The table of information provided by SUSI attached in regard to income limits is designed to apply to the maximum number of cases. However the information has been amended to reflect the distinction highlighted by the Deputy as it applies to a particular group of applicants and I am grateful to the Deputy for bringing this matter to attention.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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317. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a Student Universal Support Ireland grant in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37671/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland that in the case of the student referred to by the Deputy, that a letter issued on 28th August 2013 advising that she was ineligible for a grant due to incomplete documentation. This decision was appealed to SUSI by the student and the application is currently under appeal with SUSI.

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. The relevant appeal form will be available on request from SUSI.