Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, United Left)
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54. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the supports that are in place for parents of multiple birth children in respect of the transition from second to third level education (details supplied). [26375/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The assessment of means under my Department's student grant scheme is based on gross income from all sources. The means test arrangements of the student grant scheme are applied nationally. In the case of both employed and self-employed applicants, gross income is assessed with certain specified social welfare and health service executive payments excluded. There are no particular supports in place through SUSI for parents of multiple birth children in relation to the transition from secondary to third level education. However, the Deputy may be aware that various income thresholds apply depending on the number of dependent children in a family and/or the number of relevant persons attending further or higher education.

Officials in my Department have been informed by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the three students referred to by the Deputy applied for student grants for the academic year 2014-2015 and each was refused as the reckonable income for their household was in excess of the maximum allowable in order to qualify for funding. 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

Brian Walsh (Galway West, Independent)
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55. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the circumstances in which an applicant is considered estranged for the purposes of a grant application; the documentation that is required as proof of estrangement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26383/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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A student may be assessed as an independent mature student if he or she has attained the age of 23 on the 1st of January of the year of first entry to an approved course or of re-entry following a break in studies of at least three years and is not ordinarily resident with his/her parents from the previous October. Otherwise he or she would continue to be assessed on the basis of parental income. Only in exceptional cases, where compelling independent evidence of estrangement from parents/guardians is provided, can candidates who are under 23 be assessed without reference to their parents/guardians income or address.

The assessment of a case of estrangement is carefully considered to ensure there is sufficient evidence to demonstrate that the exceptional circumstances pertaining in such cases genuinely exists. The type of evidence required is dependent on the applicant's individual circumstances. Compelling independent evidence of irreconcilable estrangement must be provided to allow a grant awarding authority to fully satisfy itself that the conditions for the application of exemption are met. Evidence from services, including the Courts services and the Health Service Executive, working in a professional capacity with the family or the student, which demonstrates and confirms the genuine and irreconcilable nature of the estrangement would generally be necessary for an awarding authority to satisfy itself of the veracity of the case. The appropriate officer(s) depends the individual's particular circumstances.