Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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151. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position in respect of an appeal for a higher education grant in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who submitted their appeal in July 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37253/14]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the student referred to by the Deputy was awarded a Postgraduate Fee Contribution grant of €2,000 for the academic year 2013/14 and a letter issued on the 19th September 2013 advising him of same. The letter also advised that he had the right to appeal this decision by using the official appeal form, available for download from www.susi.ie and to return it by the 19th October 2013. No formal appeal was received within the statutory timeframe.

Following an enquiry from the student he was advised that as he was not in receipt of a qualifying Social Welfare payment, he had received the maximum amount of grant payable to Postgraduate students under the Student Grant Scheme 2013.

I understand that the Deputy submitted an appeal on behalf of the student in July 2014 and that SUSI have responded to the Deputy.

The Deputy should also be aware that the terms of the scheme must be applied impartially and exceptions cannot be made in individual cases regardless of the circumstances.