Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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335. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a student with a level 5 qualification who is now doing a different level 5 qualification can access the SUSI grant if he or she did not receive it for the first level 5 qualification; if not, if there are alternative supports available for such a student; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55323/21]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Progression is a key tenet of the Student Grant Scheme and section 2 of the Student Support Act 2011. To satisfy the terms and conditions of the student grant scheme in relation to progression, a student must be moving from year to year within a course, having successfully completed the previous year or be transferring from one course to another where the award for the subsequent course is of a higher level than the previous course.

Generally speaking, a grant will not be paid to a student for a repeat period of study on the same course, or for a different course at the same level, irrespective of whether or not a grant was paid previously.  The objective of this policy is to help as many students as possible to obtain one qualification at each level of study. However, once a student progresses to a course at a higher level or completes the equivalent period of study on a new course, the student may be eligible for student grant assistance for the remainder of the course. Article 15(7) of the Student Grant Scheme 2021 refers.

Notwithstanding this, under Article 15(8) of the Student Grant Scheme 2021, the awarding authority SUSI has discretion to award a grant for a repeat period of study in exceptional circumstances, such as serious certified illness, which impacted on a student completing a particular period of study or undertaking exams in line with guidelines drawn up by the Minister.

SUSI treats each application for repeat funding on a case by case basis and it is it is a matter for the individual student to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the awarding authority that there were exceptional circumstances.

The Student Grant Scheme also contains a “second chance” provision whereby mature students who previously attended but did not successfully complete a course who are returning in order to pursue an approved course at PLC, undergraduate or postgraduate level in the relevant academic year following a break in studies of at least five years may be assessed for grant assistance. Article 13(6) of the Student Grant Scheme 2021 refers.

Also the €200 PLC Participant Contribution was abolished for all students under Budget 2022, effective from the 2022/23 academic year.

Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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336. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether it is fair that a person can be refused a SUSI grant with the reason for disqualification being that capital allowances are not allowed against calculating income for SUSI grants, considering this is particularly unfair on self-employed persons and the same write-off process is permitted when calculating returns to the Revenue Commissioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55357/21]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Student Grant Scheme, administered by SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland), provides grant assistance to students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means.

The means test arrangements of the Student Grant Scheme are applied nationally. Student grant applications are means tested on gross income from all sources earned inside and outside the State within a specified reference period. In the case of both employed and self-employed applicants, gross income, before deduction of income tax or universal social charge, is assessed with certain specified social welfare and health service executive payments excluded.

The assessment of means under the Student Grant Scheme is based on gross income from all sources. Therefore, all income is assessed from the same starting point, eliminating any distortion which might arise from different spending decisions.

Article 23 of the Student Grant Scheme 2021 deals with the determination of reckonable income. In calculating reckonable income no account is taken of capital assets. Therefore no deduction is given for capital expenditure, regardless of how it is treated for income tax purposes.

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. Information on the fund is available through the Access Officer in the third level institution attended. The fund is administered on a confidential, discretionary basis.

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.