Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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318. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding allowances in respect of a person (details supplied). [9663/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Eligibility for the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) and associated payments is determined and administered by the Department of Social Protection. Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the student referred to by the Deputy was issued an award letter on the 20th September 2013.

Article 32 of the Student Grant Scheme allows for the review of eligibility during the academic year if there is a permanent change in circumstances, relating to a number of events, including a drop in reckonable income which is likely to obtain for the duration of the approved course or for the foreseeable future. Where an individual applicant considers that he has been unjustly refused a student grant, or that the rate of grant awarded is not the correct one, 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 SUSI has not interpreted the scheme correctly in his/her case, an appeal form outlining the position may be submitted by the applicant to the Student Grants Appeals Board. The relevant appeal form is available to download from .

Apart from the funding provided through the student grant schemes, my Department also provides funding to approved third level institutions to operate a Student Assistant Fund to assist students in exceptional financial need. Information on the fund is available from the Student Access Officer at the student's college.