Written answers
Wednesday, 17 January 2024
Department of Education and Skills
Grant Payments
Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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1833. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to detail the nature of documents previously accepted by SUSI as proof of estrangement or irreconcilable estrange of an applicant from their parents, for the purposes of assessing the means of a grant application; the number of cases between 2018 and 2023 that included a letter from a social workers, a court order, evidence from An Garda Síochána, and/or any other form of documentation that sufficed to prove estrangement, in each respective year, in tabular form; if he will detail the legislative basis under which SUSI will not accept a sworn affidavit as proof of estrangement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57232/23]
Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Only in exceptional cases can candidates who are under 23 be assessed without reference to their parents/guardians income or address, Article 21(3)(b) of the Scheme refers.
The assessment of a case of estrangement is carefully considered to ensure there is sufficient evidence to demonstrate that the exceptional circumstances pertaining in such cases genuinely exists. The scheme does not stipulate precisely how the awarding authority satisfies itself that such circumstances prevail. This is to allow the awarding authority sufficient flexibility to assess the evidence of irrevocable estrangement in each individual case. The type of documentary evidence required is dependent on the applicant's individual circumstances.
While an affidavit, if accompanied by other supporting documentation, may be considered as part of supporting evidence of estrangement, an affidavit in isolation is not considered acceptable as sole proof of estrangement. This is on the basis that, in witnessing an affidavit, the role of a Commissioner of Oaths or practicing solicitor is to witness the signature of the person making the affidavit. They do not verify the contents of the affidavit and therefore an affidavit is not deemed acceptable evidence of estrangement for grant assessment purposes.
Please see below the number of applications from academic year 2017/18 to 2023/24 where documentary evidence confirmed estrangement.
| Academic Year | 2017/18 | 2018/19 | 2019/20 | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total applications where documentary evidence confirmed estrangement | 77 | 70 | 76 | 64 | 61 | 54 | 29 |
*Figures for current 2023/24 academic year are likely to change as processing is ongoing.
If an applicant considers they have been unjustly refused a student grant, or that the rate of grant awarded is not the correct one, they may appeal, in the first instance, to SUSI. If they have had an appeal turned down in writing by an appeals officer in SUSI and remain 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).
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