Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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133. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of applications made for SUSI grants for the 2018-2019 term up to the end of August 2018; the number of those granted, denied and appealed, respectively; the number of those appeals accepted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38983/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Up to the week ending 2 September 2018, the total number of SUSI applications for the 2018/19 academic year was 91,500. Of these, a total of 74,000 had received an initial assessment decision with 63,900 awarded a grant, 8,400 refused a grant and 1,700 applications were cancelled.

With regard to appeals, it is open to any applicant to appeal a decision. Some applicants appeal a decision not to award a grant, while others appeal the value of the grant awarded.

Up to week ending 2 September 2018, a total of 2,059 decisions were appealed to an appeals officer in SUSI. Of these, the original decision was upheld in 956 cases, 496 appeals had the original decision varied and 607 appeals were yet to be finalised.

With regard to the 496 cases that had the original decision varied, 427 cases were varied due to a change of circumstance and/or the submission of new information by the applicant which had a material effect on their original application.