Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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38. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the action that will be taken to assist persons (details supplied) who have lost €600 a month under their SUSI application. [30012/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will appreciate that in the absence of all of the relevant details that would be contained in an individual's application form, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means, it would not be possible for me to say whether or not a student would qualify for a grant or what level of grant would be appropriate.

The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter for SUSI to determine. In assessing an application for the 2016/17 academic year, SUSI will have regard to the following qualifying criteria for the special rate of maintenance grant:

1. The student must qualify for the standard rate of grant;

2. Total reckonable income, after income disregards and Child Dependant Increase(s) are excluded, must not exceed €22,703;

3. As at 31st of December 2015, the reckonable income must include one of the eligible long-term social welfare payments prescribed in the Student Grant Scheme.

In general terms Jobseekers Allowance is considered to be a short-term payment unless it is held for 391 consecutive days at the 31st December 2015. The Scheme makes provision for combining periods of Jobseeker's Allowance, Jobseeker's Benefit and other eligible payments for the purposes of meeting 391 days as determined by the Department of Social Protection.

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 his/her case, an appeal form outlining the position may be submitted by the applicant to the independent Student Grants Appeals Board within the required timeframe.

Students in third-level institutions experiencing exceptional financial need can apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund. This Fund assists students, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances. Details of this fund are available from the Access Office in the institution attended.