David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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78. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the action taken by his Department to address shortfalls in residency requirements for SUSI applications for applicants whose residency in the State may have been impacted by Covid-19 travel restrictions in place at the time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6480/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The terms and conditions of the Student Grant Scheme are applied impartially to all applicants.

Regarding residency, in order to be eligible for a grant, a student must have been resident in the State for at least three out of the five years prior to starting their course. This gives students a significant level of flexibility. Students who want to take time out to travel or work abroad, persons impacted by COVID-19 travel restrictions or any student who spends a period of time outside the State, for whatever reason, can still meet the residency requirement if they have not been outside the State for more than two of the previous five years.

It is also possible for students who did not meet the residency requirement at the start of their studies to have their eligibility reviewed if they meet the residency requirement during the course of their studies.

Alternatively, a tuition student who meets the residency requirement in a Member State, the EEA or Switzerland and satisfies the nationality requirements may be eligible for a fee grant.