The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter for the relevant grant awarding authority — local authority or VEC. Under the residency requirement of the Student Grant Scheme 2011, an applicant must have been legally resident in Ireland for at least 3 of the 5 years immediately prior to commencing an approved course in an approved institution.
As non-residents may also apply to the Revenue Commissioners for a tax clearance certificate, this document does not necessarily of itself prove residency in the State. However, it may be considered by the relevant grant awarding authority in conjunction with other acceptable supporting documentation to demonstrate residency, including utility bills, social welfare statements or evidence of registration with the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) and other documents as outlined in Schedule 5 of the Student Grant Scheme 2011.