Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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423. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the details of the student support scheme for asylum seekers for the academic year 2021-2022 will be published. [36377/21]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware the student support scheme for persons in the protection process or at the leave to remain (but not deportation order) stage is a scheme that provides supports to qualifying students which are similar to those available in the statutory based Student Grant Scheme administered by SUSI.

The Student Support Scheme for Asylum Seekers is subject to an annual review at the end of each academic year. Following a review of the Student Support Scheme 2019 for Asylum Seekers, the decision was taken to continue the scheme for the 2020/21 academic year. A review of the Student Support Scheme 2020 is currently been undertaken and an announcement will be made in the coming weeks.

Simon 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.

I have been advised by my officials that the student outlined by the Deputy declared that he was completing year 1 of Masters Degree for the 2020/21 academic year. As per the Student Grant Scheme, maintenance grants are paid in 9 monthly instalments and the applicant has already received all 9 payments in relation to the 2020/21 academic year.

The student then submitted an application for the 2021/22 academic year stating he was now completing year 2 of a 2 year Level 9 course, however the student will not be in education for 2021/22 academic year. The student advised that he is attending atypical course and requested funding to August 2021. However, under the terms of the Student Grant Scheme the provision of grants to students in the 2021/22 academic year is defined for the academic year beginning on or after 1st September 2021. As the academic year for which the student is applying for grant funding began before this prescribed date he is not eligible for funding under the Student Grant Scheme.