Written answers

Thursday, 9 September 2021

Department of Education and Skills

Further and Higher Education

Photo of Seán SherlockSeán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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841. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will allow a late appeal for a person (details supplied). [42581/21]

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The decision on eligibility for student grant assistance 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 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. Such appeals can be made by the appellant on line via www.studentgrantappeals.ie.

Under Section 21(2) of the Student Support Act 2011 an applicant has 30 days, from the date of the Appeals Officer’s decision in the awarding authority, to submit their appeal to the Student Grant Appeals Board (Board).  

Under Section 21(3) of the Act the Board may extend this period by a further 30 days if it is satisfied that the applicant has given reasonable cause to do so.

The Board does not have any discretion to extend the time period beyond that allowed for in the Act.

My officials advised that the student in question has engaged in the SUSI appeals process but did not submit his appeal to the Student Grant Appeals Board within the required timeframe. Therefore the rate of grant awarded to the student remains the same.

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. This fund is administered on a confidential, discretionary basis.

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