Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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437. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a person (details supplied) can receive a full recheck on their SUSI application; if so, if it will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36205/19]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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Assessment of means under the Student Grant Scheme 2019 is based on gross income from all sources, of the applicant and his/her parents. 

Under Article 32 of the Student Grant Scheme 2019 a student may apply to the awarding authority to have his/her eligibility assessed or reassessed in the event of a change in circumstances between 1 January 2019 and the end of the academic year, which is likely to continue for the foreseeable future or the duration of the course attended. 

The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the centralised student grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) to determine.

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

Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down in writing by an appeals officer in SUSI and remains of the view that the scheme has not been interpreted correctly in his/her case, an appeal may be submitted to the independent Student Grants Appeals Board within the required timeframe (i.e. not later than 30 days after the notification of the determination of the appeals officer to the applicant). Such appeals can be made by the appellant on line via www.studentgrantappeals.ie.

Apart from the Student Grant Scheme, 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. Details of this fund are available from the Access Office in the third level institution attended.