Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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389. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to amend the residency rule relating to accessing Student Universal Support Ireland supports to allow for Irish citizens who emigrated in recent years for economic reasons and have returned here to avail of further education opportunities. [24514/16]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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393. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he has examined reviewing the residency rule regarding accessing SUSI supports for Irish citizens who emigrated in recent years for economic reasons due to the recession; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24544/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 389 and 393 together.

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 his/her 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. Similar and in some cases more restrictive residency requirements apply in other EU Member States.

It is also possible for students, 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.