Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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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.

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.

If you were 23 or over on 1 January of the year when you first enter/re-enter further or higher education, you will be classed as an Independent Student. You must have been living independently from your parent(s) or legal guardian(s) from the October in the year prior to your first point of entry/re-entry into further or higher education and will be required to provide evidence of this. The documentation required can be found here: www.susi.ie/eligibility-criteria/income/applicant-class/independent-students/

However, the applicant can appeal the decision and their case will be reviewed by SUSI’s Appeals Officer. The appeals officer may seek further information in cases where an applicant does not have the above documentary evidence for Independent Residency, such as in the case of renting a room.

Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down in writing by an appeals officer in SUSI and remains of the view that the scheme has not been interpreted correctly in their case, an appeal may be submitted to the independent Student Grants Appeals Board within the required timeframe (i.e. not later than 30 days after the notification of the determination of the appeals officer to the applicant). Such appeals can be made by the appellant on line via www.studentgrantappeals.ie.

The Government has taken a number of steps to increase availability of digs. The matter you have raised will be considered as part of that.