Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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242. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a person (details supplied) in County Meath will be granted the SUSI grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8980/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The main support available to students is the statutory based Student Grant Scheme where students are studying for the first time or are progressing to study at a higher level.  The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the centralised student grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) to determine.

With regard to the specific application, I have been advised by my officials that the student in question submitted an application to SUSI on 28th October 2021.  The application proceeded through the assessment process and the reckonable income was found to be over the threshold for grant assistance. The student then proceeded through the SUSI appeals process.  Documentation was requested from the applicant and submitted.  Further information was requested on 20th January 2022. To date the requested information is still outstanding.  The SUSI appeal was finalised and a determination was notified directly to the student.

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

However, article 32 of the Student Grant Scheme 2021 provides for a review of eligibility for the award of a grant in the event of a change of circumstances in the academic year. Where a student experiences a change of circumstances during the course of their studies, he/she may apply to SUSI to have his/her application re-assessed at helpdesk@SUSI.ie quoting Internal Review in the Subject line.

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. If the Enquiries may be emailed direct to SUSI oireachtas@susi.ie.  Staff in SUSI are responding to email queries within a matter of days.