Joe Flaherty (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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816. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on a SUSI application for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29976/24]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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An official from my Department has advised that the student outlined by the Deputy was refused grant assistance by SUSI in the 2023/2024 academic year due to income over the limit based on their 2022 household income calculation, which included holiday earnings and pension contribution deductions.

The applicant submitted an internal review stating that illness benefit included in the 2022 income calculation was received in 2021 and provided documentary evidence of same. On review, SUSI removed the illness benefit from the 2022 household income. However, the total household income remained above the threshold limit of €55,240 for postgraduate studies for the 2023/2024 academic year.

On 4th July 2024, SUSI Oireachtas Helpdesk responded to a query from the Deputy’s office regarding the amount of holiday earnings that had been deducted for this applicant. SUSI advised that if the applicant can provide dated payslips for September and Christmas 2022, they may be able to increase the amount of holiday earnings previously deducted.