Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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444. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will ensure a SUSI grant is issued to a person (details supplied) on appeal. [58469/21]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The awarding of a student grant is a matter for SUSI to determine. With regard to the specific application, I have been advised by my officials that the student outlined by the Deputy submitted an application for the 2021/22 academic year applying as an independent student and was requested to provide evidence of same. The application was refused due to insufficient documentation to prove independent residence. The student submitted an appeal to the SUSI appeals officer on the 4th November 2021 and additional information was requested from the applicant on 11th November 2021. This information remains outstanding, according 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 form outlining the position may be submitted by the applicant to the independent Student Grants Appeals Board. I would encourage the Deputy to use oireachtas@susi.ie if he requires any additional assistance.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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445. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will urgently review the SUSI rate of a student (details supplied). [58470/21]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Department or the Minister have no role in the awarding of a student grant. For the 2021/22 academic year, student grant applications will be assessed based on gross income from all sources for the reference period 1st January 2020 to 31st December 2020.

However, a very important feature of the scheme that I would point to is the change of circumstances provision. If an applicant or a family member has experienced a change in circumstances during 2021, then they can apply to SUSI for their application to be assessed or reassessed under a change in circumstances. The change of circumstances provision is a well-established procedure and it can also operate at scale. For example, over 10,000 applicants declared a change of circumstance in the 2020/21 academic year and some 40% of these applications related to COVID-19.

With regard to the specific application, I have been advised by my officials that the student outlined by the Deputy applied to SUSI and then requested a review of her application due to a change of circumstances in 2021. The student has been awarded the maximum rate of grant available to her for her Postgraduate studies as the income for both 2020 and 2021 is over the Special Rate threshold. 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.