Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 November 2012
288. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will expedite a higher education grant in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; his views on whether it is acceptable that students are accumulating debts while waiting for their grants to be processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47432/12]
View answerDecisions on eligibility for new student grant applications from the 2012/13 academic year are a matter for the new centralised grant awarding authority, SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland).
Officials in my Department have confirmed with SUSI that the student referred to by the deputy was issued with a decision on the 31/10/2012 advising him that he was ineligible for a grant for the 2012/13 academic year.
If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a student grant, or that the rate of grant awarded is not the correct one, she or he may appeal, in the first instance, to SUSI. Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down in writing by SUSI and remains of the view that SUSI has not interpreted the scheme correctly in his or her case, an appeal form outlining the position may be submitted by the applicant to the Student Grant Appeals Board. The relevant appeal form is available on request from SUSI.
