James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

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.

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.

Otherwise, they are assessed as a dependent student i.e. assessed with reference to parental income.

Applicants who do not meet the criteria to be assessed as an independent student for grant purposes, or who cannot supply the necessary documentation to establish independent living for the required period, may still apply to the awarding authority SUSI to have their grant eligibility assessed as a dependent student.

Only in exceptional cases, where compelling evidence of estrangement from parents/guardians is provided, can candidates who are under 23 be assessed without reference to their parents/guardians income or address, Article 21(3) (b) of the Student Grant Scheme 2025 refers.

If an applicant is irreconcilably estranged from their parents or legal guardians they can declare this on their SUSI application. Such applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis by a specialist assessment team who are dedicated to giving them the care and thorough consideration required around such a sensitive issue.

Applicants are requested to provide documentary evidence of estrangement to confirm their situation. The type of documentary evidence required is dependent on the applicant’s individual circumstances and may vary widely from case to case.

The requirement to provide sufficient evidence is necessary, due to the fact that, where estrangement is confirmed, applicants may be exempted from having their parent’s or legal guardian’s income taken into account for grant assessment purposes.

If a student is dissatisfied with a decision in relation to a grant application they can appeal to a SUSI Appeals Officer. If they remain dissatisfied with the decision of the Appeals Officer, they can further appeal 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).

Students in third-level institutions experiencing exceptional financial need can apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund (SAF). 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.

Any student in such circumstances can contact the access or student services office in the institution they are attending for further information on how to apply for the SAF.

The Student Grant Scheme is kept under continuous review, any changes to student status can only be considered in the context of the budgetary allocation, having regard to overall resource constraints and other competing demands in the further and higher education sector.