Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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432. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to decrease the qualifying criteria for the non-adjacent rate of the SUSI grant from 30 km to 24 km; the estimated cost involved in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38633/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy may be aware, in Budget 2022 I reduced the qualifying distance criterion for students to qualify for the non-adjacent rate of grant from 45km to 30km to support students who must travel long-distances to their place of education. These changes will come into effect from the start of the 2022/23 academic year.

The adjacent rate of maintenance grant is payable in the case of students whose normal residence is 30km or less from the approved institution which he or she is attending. The non-adjacent rate of maintenance grant is payable in all other cases.

Further decreases in the qualifying distance will be considered in the context of Budget 2023 and the recommendations from the review of the Student Grant Scheme.

In relation to the estimated cost involved in 2023, this is a complex matter given a variety of factors and I am advised that SUSI, the awarding authority, who have details of current applicants' distances, will correspond directly with the Deputy's office in the coming weeks with estimated costings.

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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434. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider the appeal by a person (details supplied) following the rejection of their application for student supports [38711/22]

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 centralized student grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) to determine.

With regard to this specific application, I been advised by my officials that the student to whom the Deputy refers appealed firstly to SUSI and more recently to the independent Student Grant Appeals Board on the basis of reckonable income.

Assessment of means under the Student Grant Scheme 2022 is based on gross income from all sources, of the applicant and his parents or partner. No deduction is given for outgoings with the exception of pension contributions, legally enforceable maintenance payments and employment related expenses as approved by Revenue.

I have been advised by my officials that the student in question has exhausted the appeals process. Her appeal was heard by the independent Student Grant Appeals Board on 5th July 2022 and the determination was issued directly to the student.

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. This 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, including approved undergraduate and postgraduate courses in EU Member States and in non-EU countries. Further information on this tax relief is available from the student’s local Tax Office or from the Revenue Commissioners website, www.revenue.ie.