Paul Connaughton (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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291. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway, was awarded the 100% adjacent rate maintenance grant plus 100% fees and has now been told that they are not entitled to fees for this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8256/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that a letter issued to the student referred to by the Deputy on 17th February 2014 advising that he must complete an equivalent period of study before being eligible to be considered for funding under the Student Grant Scheme. I understand that the student completed previous periods of study without receiving a qualification.

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

If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a student grant, she/he may appeal, in the first instance, to the appeals officer in 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. The relevant appeal form is available to download from