Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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75. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if special provision will be made in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3698/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The main support available to students is the statutory based Student Grant Scheme. To qualify for grant support, a student has to meet various criteria such as means, residency, nationality and progression.

The nationality requirements for the student grant scheme are set out in section 14 of the Student Support Act 2011 and regulation 5 of the Student Support Regulations 2016. To qualify for a student grant, the applicant must meet the nationality or prescribed immigration status requirements in his/her own right. The onus is on the grant applicant to provide the necessary documentary evidence as proof of his nationality or immigration status.

I understand that the student referred to by the Deputy made an application to SUSI and received the awarding authority's decision not to award a grant on 02/08/16. The student appealed this decision to an appeals officer and a decision upholding the original decision of the awarding authority was issued on 18/08/16. The student had the option of appealing that decision to the statutory independent Student Grants Appeals Board but failed to do so within the specified time period of 30 days.

There is no provision under the means tested student grant scheme to award a grant based on academic performance.

The individual concerned may wish to review the criteria for the various scholarship and bursary schemes supported by my Department, to determine if she might be eligible for support in 2017/18. Information on these schemes can be accessed at the following link:

Other possible options include the Student Assistance Fund and tax relief on fees.

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. Information on the fund is available through the Access Office in the third level institution attended. This fund is administered on a confidential, discretionary basis.

Tax relief at the standard rate of tax may be claimed in respect of tuition fees paid for approved courses at approved colleges of higher education including approved undergraduate and postgraduate courses in EU Member States and in non-EU countries. Further information on this tax relief is available from the Revenue Commissioners on www. revenue.ie.