Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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2616.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if an application for a SUSI grant will be reviewed (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32739/24]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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As per Article 13(3) of the Student Grant Scheme 2023, as an independent mature student the applicant must be:

• 23 years of age or over on 1st January of the year when they first enter/re-enter further or higher education, and

• They must have been living independently from their parents/legal guardians from the October in the year prior to their first point of entry/re-entry into further or higher education and will be required to provide evidence of this.

An applicant’s classification is defined at their first point of entry or re-entry to an approved further or higher education course and will continue for the duration of their studies. A dependent student can only be reclassified following a three year break in their studies as per Article 13(5) of the scheme.

With regard to this specific application, I have been advised that the student referred to by the Deputy was awarded the Postgraduate Fee Contribution grant on 12th September 2023. Following a SUSI internal quality audit review, it was confirmed that the student had been incorrectly assessed as an independent student.

At their first point of entry to an approved higher education course in the 2018/2019 academic year, the student was under 23 years of age and, therefore, classed as a dependent student under the terms of the Student Grant Scheme. The student continued their studies for 2019/20, 2020/21 and 2021/22.

The student did not have the required three year break in studies to be reclassified as an independent student prior to starting their course in the 2023/2024 academic year.

A letter was sent to the student by SUSI on 13th December 2023 advising that their application had been cancelled and to re-apply as a dependent student to be assessed with reference to their parents/legal guardians’ income. The student did not re-apply for student grant funding for the 2023/2024 academic year. It is open to the student to contact SUSI at Support@SUSI.ie if they wish to make a late application.