Written answers

Thursday, 11 October 2018

Department of Education and Skills

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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64. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if an appeal can be facilitated in respect of the refusal of a higher education grant in the case of a person (details supplied) who has been assessed as benefiting from their parents income, who is not supported by their parents and who lives in another jurisdiction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41709/18]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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For student grant purposes, students are categorised according to their circumstances either as an independent student or a dependent student.  

An applicant’s class is defined at his/her first point of entry or re-entry to an approved course and will continue for the duration of his/her studies.

In order to be classified as an independent applicant a student must:

- Be over 23 years of age on the first of January of the year in which s/he enters or re-enters an approved PLC or higher education course, and

- Not ordinarily reside with his/her parent(s) from October of the year before the first point of entry or re-entry to an approved higher education course.

If an individual applicant considers that s/he has been unjustly refused a student grant or that the rate of grant awarded is not the correct one, s/he 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 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.

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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65. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status in respect of an application for a higher education grant for study in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41711/18]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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As part of a comprehensive customer service and communications strategy provided by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), to ensure that all necessary avenues are open to applicants to receive the information they need, a dedicated email and phone line service is provided by SUSI for Oireachtas members. This was established to meet an identified need for applicants who choose to engage the assistance of their public representatives in making enquiries about their grant applications.

This service complements the established channels provided by SUSI which include online application tracking, a dedicated website, a telephone helpdesk, email and social media, including Facebook and Twitter.

Enquiries may be emailed direct to SUSI at oireachtas@susi.ie. Staff in SUSI are responding to email queries within a matter of days.

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