Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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216. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the criteria for SUSI grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34587/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Very significant numbers of third-level students move out of home to go to college and continue to be supported by their parents while in full-time education. Confirmation that a student is living separately from his/her parents is, of itself, not sufficient to establish independent status. 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.

The onus is on the grant applicant to provide the necessary documentary evidence as requested by the relevant grant awarding authority. In this regard, a grant awarding authority will seek to assist students in identifying relevant documentation.

If a student considers that he/she has been unjustly refused a student grant or that the rate of grant awarded is not the correct one, he/she may appeal in the first instance to SUSI.

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 their case, an appeal form outlining the position may be submitted by the applicant to the independent Student Grants Appeals Board.