Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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558. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will exercise discretion in the matter of a person (details supplied) in receipt of a SUSI grant. [49668/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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For student grant purposes, students are categorised according to their circumstances either as students dependent on parents or a legal guardian, or as independent mature students.

A student may be assessed as an independent student (i.e. assessed without reference to parental income and address) if he/she has attained the age of 23 on the 1st of January of the year of first entry to an approved course, and is not ordinarily resident with his/her parents from the previous 1st October. Otherwise, he/she would be assessed as a dependent student, i.e. assessed with reference to parental income and address.

A student’s status for grant purposes is defined at their first point of entry to an approved further or higher education course or at their point of re-entry to an approved course following a break in studies of at least three years, and continues to apply for the duration of their studies.

However, there are points at which a student may reclassify from a dependent student to an independent student. These are where he/she:

- Progresses from further education to higher education.

- Is returning following a 3 year break in studies.

- Is returning as a "second chance" student after a break in studies.

The decision on eligibility for student grant applications is a matter for the centralised grant awarding authority, SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland).

Applicants who do not meet the criteria to be assessed as an independent student for grant purposes, or who cannot supply the necessary documentation to establish independent living for the required period, may still apply to SUSI to have their grant eligibility assessed as a dependent student. The relevant information, including details of parental income, would be required by SUSI to determine grant eligibility as a dependent student.

With regard to the specific application, I have been advised by my officials that the student has exhausted the appeals process. Her appeal was heard by the independent Student Grant Appeals Board on 19^thJuly 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.

Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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559. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason that a person in receipt of a SUSI grant, who is classed as a dependant, at the beginning of their studies cannot become independent during their studies without requiring a three-year break; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49669/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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For student grant purposes, students are categorised according to their circumstances either as students dependent on parents or a legal guardian, or as independent mature students.

A student may be assessed as an independent student (i.e. assessed without reference to parental income and address) if he/she has attained the age of 23 on the 1st of January of the year of first entry to an approved course, and is not ordinarily resident with his/her parents from the previous 1st October. Otherwise, he/she would be assessed as a dependent student, i.e. assessed with reference to parental income and address.

A student’s status for grant purposes is defined at their first point of entry to an approved further or higher education course and continues to apply for the duration of their studies.

However, there are points at which a student may reclassify from a dependent student to an independent student. These are where he/she:

- Progresses from further education to higher education;

- Is returning following a 3 year break in studies; or

- Is returning as a "second chance" student after a five year break in studies. (Following the recent Budget announcements this time period for a full break in studies will be reduced from 5 years to 3 in the 2023/24 academic year).

The decision on eligibility for student grant applications is a matter for the centralised grant awarding authority, SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland).

Applicants who do not meet the criteria to be assessed as an independent student for grant purposes, or who cannot supply the necessary documentation to establish independent living for the required period, may still apply to SUSI to have their grant eligibility assessed as a dependent student. The relevant information, including details of parental income, would be required by SUSI to determine grant eligibility as a dependent student.

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.

The Deputy will appreciate that the student grant appeals process has been established to investigate and address any issues concerning student grant applications.

As there were no details provided for the student the Deputy refers to, I cannot comment on the application status of this student. If the Deputy has further enquiries relating to the specific application, they can be emailed direct to SUSI oireachtas@susi.ie. Staff in SUSI are responding to email queries within a matter of days.

Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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560. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the factors that are used to determine distance from the recipient’s home to a higher educational institute in calculating the rate of a SUSI grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49670/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Under the terms of the Student Grant Scheme, grant assistance is awarded 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 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.

Maintenance grants under the Student Grant Scheme are awarded either at the non-adjacent rate or the adjacent rate, depending on the distance between the applicant’s normal residence and the college attended.

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.

The measurement of the distances relating to the award of adjacent or non-adjacent rates of student grant is a matter for the relevant grant awarding authority. The distance measurement for student grant rates is governed by Article 27(3)(a) and (b) of the Student Grant Scheme 2022. This provides that the relevant distance will be measured in line with agreed guidelines.

The guidelines require that the shortest most direct route between the applicant's normal residence and the institution being attended should apply. In determining the shortest most direct route, the relevant awarding authority shall establish:

- the method for measuring a route;

- the factors to be taken into account in establishing and measuring a route.

The qualifying distance criterion for students to qualify for the non-adjacent rate of grant was reduced 45km to 30km, effective from the start of the 2022/23 academic year.

I prioritised this change for the 2022/23 academic year and is currently benefitting students building on the improvements that I have already been made and those announced in the recent Budget.

Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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561. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the process that is employed in appealing a decision made on a SUSI grant; the person who presides over the decision-making process in both the first and second instance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49671/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Student Grant Scheme is administered by the centralised national grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland), a business unit of CDETB (City of Dublin Education and Training Board), on behalf of the Department. The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter for SUSI to determine.

If an individual applicant considers that he/she has been unjustly refused a student grant, he/she may appeal, in the first instance, to the awarding body SUSI. Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down in writing by the Appeals Officer in SUSI and remains of the view that the scheme has not been interpreted correctly in his/her case, an appeal outlining the position may be submitted by the applicant to the independent Student Grants Appeals Board.

The Student Grant Appeals Board (the Board) was established under Section 25 of the Student Support Act 2011 and under Section 21(4)(a) is independent in the performance of its functions.Appointments to the Board are in compliance with The Public Appointments Service (PAS) process.

Under Section 25 (4) of the Student Support Act, the Appeals Board shall consist of a Chairperson and such number of ordinary members as shall by determined by the Minister but which in any case shall not exceed 11 persons.

The term of office of the Appeals Board is for 5 years and the current Board commenced in September 2021.

The current Board comprises of a Chairperson and 6 ordinary members.

The independent Board meets on a regular basis and adjudicates on the cases submitted.