Written answers

Wednesday, 15 July 2015

Department of Education and Skills

Student Grant Scheme Reviews

Photo of Jonathan O'BrienJonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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277. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the individuals who participate in reviews of the Student Universal Support Ireland grant scheme guidelines each year; the organisations, statutory bodies or Departments they represent; the number of meetings they had for the review of the scheme that was used for the 2014-15 academic year; the dates on which those meetings were held; the terms of reference they were given; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29350/15]

Photo of Jan O'SullivanJan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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SUSI do not have responsibility for the review of the student grant scheme, or the guidelines, this is the responsibility of my Department. As part of the annual review process, my Department engages with stakeholders including Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), USI and other relevant government Departments and statutory bodies where necessary.

The eligibility criteria for student grants, as set out in the student grant scheme and the student support regulations, is approved by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

The student grant scheme requires the Minister for Education and Skills to provide guidelines to the awarding authorities in respect of certain conditions of the scheme, namely:(a) funding for repeat period of study in exceptional circumstances, article 15(8);

(b) determining the rate of maintenance grant, i.e. adjacent or non-adjacent, article 27(3)(a);

(c) apportionment of payments, article 27(5).

The guidelines are published each year and are available on the SUSI website, www.susi.ie.

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