Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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1282. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding college grant support in respect of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33536/14]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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1297. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there is any scheme or grant to assist a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33610/14]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1282 and 1297 together.

For student grant purposes, students are categorised according to their circumstances either as students dependent on parents or a legal guardian, or as independent mature students.

For a dependent student, the reckonable income for grant purposes includes both his/her own income and that of his/her parents/legal guardians. An applicant's class is defined at his/her first point of entry to an approved higher or further education course and will continue to apply for the duration of his/her studies.

A student may be assessed as an independent mature student if he or she has attained the age of 23 on the 1st 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.

Officials of my Department have contacted Louth/Meath ETB, the relevant grant awarding authority in this case, who confirmed that in the case of the student referred to by the Deputy he was awarded a fee grant of 50% student contribution in the 2013/2014 academic year having been assessed with reference to his parents reckonable income details. The awarding authority also confirmed that they have not to date received an application from the student to renew his grant application in the respect of the 2014/2015 academic year.

Students in third-level institutions experiencing exceptional financial need can apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund. This Fund assists students, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances. Information on the fund is available through the Access Officer in the third level institution attended. This fund is administered on a confidential, discretionary basis.