Written answers

Tuesday, 17 November 2020

Department of Education and Skills

Student Universal Support Ireland

Photo of James LawlessJames Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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636. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a SUSI appeal by a person (details supplied). [36842/20]

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, 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, which was set up at the behest of Oireachtas members, 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.

With regard to the specific application, I have been advised by my officials that the student in question submitted an application to SUSI on 4thAugust 2020. It was confirmed by the applicant through this application that there was no change in circumstances in relation to reckonable income and therefore the reckonable income was assessed based on 2019 income as per the Student Grant Scheme 2020. On receipt of all requested evidentiary documentation, the  income assessed for 2019 was deemed over the limit of the maximum threshold allowed and a letter advising this outcome was sent to the student on 14thOctober 2020.  SUSI  received a Notice of Appeal from the student on 2ndNovember 2020  and the application is currently queued for review by the Appeals Officer who undertakes to respond to all Appeals in writing within 30 days of receipt.

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 .

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.

In addition, 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 a student’s local Tax Office or from the Revenue Commissioners website, www.revenue.ie.

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