Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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542. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills why a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath who was in a position to confirm their address by way of social protection and other documents has not been paid a student support grant, given that the person has made an appeal to Student Universal Support Ireland; if she will address this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45796/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I understand that this particular case is in respect of independent living.

The decision on eligibility for new student grant applications is a matter for the centralised grant awarding authority, SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland). When considering whether a student meets the conditions to be assessed independently of his or her parents, grant awarding authorities are obliged to satisfy themselves beyond doubt that an acceptable degree of proof of independent living in the relevant period has been submitted by the grant applicant.

I understand that, SUSI accepts certain documentation from the Department of Social Protection in order to assist an applicant in proving that he/she is living independently at an address. The documentation must, however, directly relate to the applicant's residence at that address e.g. a letter from the Department of Social Protection confirming that the applicant is receiving rent allowance at that address. Other forms of correspondence from the Department of Social Protection that may be provided to SUSI by applicants as part of their student grant application do not necessarily require the same level of validation by the Department of Social Protection with regard to the person's residence at a particular address. However, all documentation received by SUSI as evidence of independent residence is reviewed and decisions are made on a case by case basis having regard to the evidential value of the documentation submitted, other available evidence and the specific circumstances of each case.

If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a student grant, she/he may appeal, in the first instance, to their awarding body. 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 her case, an appeal form outlining the position may be submitted by the applicant to the independent Student Grant Appeals Board.