Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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2607.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if an outcome will be reviewed for a SUSI application by a mature student (details supplied); if there are additional support for mature students who lose income from work when returning to education who are not eligible for BTEA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31662/24]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The qualifying criteria for the special rate of maintenance grant in the 2023/24 and 2024/25 academic years as specified under the Student Grant Scheme 2023 and 2024 are as follows:

1. Students must qualify for the standard rate of grant;

2. Total reckonable income (net of income disregards and Increase for Qualified Child) must not exceed €25,000 (2023/24) and €26,200 (2024/25), and

3. As at 31st December, 2022 and 2023 respectively, the reckonable income must include one of the eligible long-term social welfare payments prescribed in the Student Grant Scheme.

With regard to the specific application, I have been advised by my officials that the student to whom the Deputy refers was awarded the full adjacent standard rate of maintenance grant by the awarding authority, SUSI, together with 100% student contribution for the 2023/2024 academic year. While the student was in receipt of an eligible special rate payment on 31 December 2022, the reckonable income was in excess of the 2023/2024 threshold of €25,000 for the award of the special rate of grant.

The student appealed to SUSI on 24 October 2023 stating that they had ceased employment in September 2023 to return to college. SUSI refused their appeal as the student was no longer in receipt of an eligible payment (Working Family Payment) for the special rate of grant since 28 September 2023. The student further appealed to the Student Grant Appeals Board who upheld the decision of the SUSI Appeals Officer on 14 December 2023.

For the 2024/2025 academic year, the student was awarded the full adjacent standard rate of maintenance grant together with 100% student contribution or 100% tuition fees whichever applies. While the student’s reckonable income was under the 2024/2025 threshold of €26,200, they were not in receipt of an eligible special rate payment on 31 December 2023.

While the student was not in receipt of an eligible special rate payment at the time of their application being assessed, should their circumstances change and they are awarded an eligible payment in the future they can request an internal review by emailing the SUSI Support Desk at .

Apart from the Student Grant Scheme, 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.

In addition, tax relief at the standard rate of tax may be claimed in respect of tuition fees paid for approved courses at approved colleges of higher education. Further information on this tax relief is available from a student’s local Tax Office or from the Revenue Commissioners website, .