Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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698. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for the delay in processing an application for a student grant by a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6803/16]

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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699. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to clarify when Student Universal Support Ireland will be allowed to make a decision on an application by a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6804/16]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 698 and 699 together.

The applicant to which the Deputy refers, applied for a SUSI grant and was refused following appeal, based on the rules of progression.

The Appeals Officer's determination issued to the student on the 3rd of November 2015. The student subsequently lodged an appeal with the independent Student Grants Appeals Board on the 18th of March 2016.

Under Section 21(2) of the Student Support Act 2011 an applicant has 30 days from the date of the Appeals Officer's decision to submit his/her appeal to the independent Student Grants Appeals Board. Under Section 21(3) of the Act the Board may extend this period by a further 30 days if it is satisfied that the applicant has given reasonable cause to do so.

The applicant failed to submit her appeal to the Board within the time provisions allowed for in the Student Support Act 2011. The independent Student Grants Appeals Board does not have any discretion to extend the time period beyond that allowed for in the Act.