Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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140. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will amend the student grant scheme and the student support regulations in order that erstwhile legally resident Student Universal Support Ireland applicants who are deemed to be ineligible because they have not met the residency conditions, as they have worked overseas for a number of years as unpaid volunteers doing charitable work in some of the world's most deprived places, will be eligible for higher education grants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33965/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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To be eligible for a grant, a "student", as defined in Section 14 of the Student Support Act 2011, must demonstrate that he/she has been resident in the State for at least 3 years out of the 5 year period ending on the day before the start of their approved course of study.

This requirement takes cognisance of students who wish to take time out to travel or work abroad. Such students can still meet the residency requirement if they have not been outside the State for more than two of the previous five years.

It is also possible for a student, who did not meet the residency requirement at the commencement of their studies, to have their eligibility reviewed if they meet the residency requirement during the course of their studies.

I have no plans to change the current arrangements.