Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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271. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if an appeal in relation to a SUSI grant will be initiated in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43410/18]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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I understand that the student to whom the Deputy refers, has made appeals to both the appeals officer in SUSI and to the statutory independent Student Grants Appeals Board. She has therefore exhausted the statutory based appeals process.

With regard to the general issue of assessment of income under the Student Grants Scheme, the rates of grant and the income thresholds for the Student Grant Scheme are published annually.

Student grant applications are means tested on gross income from all sources earned inside and outside the State within a specified reference period. The means test arrangements of the Student Grant Scheme are applied nationally.

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.

Also, 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. Further information on this tax relief is available from the Revenue Commissioners at www.revenue.ie.