Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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1657. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if under-23-year-olds who are living independently but not estranged from their parents can apply for SUSI independently of their parents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30101/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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In general for student grant purposes students are categorised according to their circumstances either as students dependent on their parent(s) or legal guardian(s), or as independent mature students.

In examining changes to eligibility criteria for the scheme I have to consider how a change might impact on a particular cohort when compared against the impact of a wide range of other competing policy demands across the further and higher education sector. I also have to have regard to the availability of resources in an Estimates process.

A student may be assessed as an independent student if:

• they have attained the age of 23 on the 1st of January of the year of first entry or re-entry to an approved further education course or an approved higher education course and;
• have not been ordinarily resident with their parent(s) from the previous 1st October.

A student’s status for grant purposes is defined at their first point of entry to an approved further or higher education course or at their point of re-entry to an approved course following a break in studies of at least three years, and continues to apply for the duration of their studies.

The decision on eligibility for student grant applications is a matter for the centralised grant awarding authority, SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland). Further information regarding class of applicant (independent or dependent) and the types of documentation accepted as evidence of living independently from parents is available from SUSI’s website: www.susi.ie/eligibility-criteria/income/applicant-class/.

Where a student considers they have been unjustly refused a student grant, they can appeal in the first instance to SUSI. If their appeal is turned down by SUSI they can further appeal to the independent Student Grant Appeals Board on-line via www.studentgrantappeals.ie.