Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 January 2013
92. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has been denied the higher education grant; if he will have Student Universal Support Ireland re-examine their application with a view to awarding the grant as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2158/13]
View answerOfficials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland that the grant application of the student referred to by the Deputy for the 2012/13 academic year was awarded a postgraduate fee contribution based on the terms and conditions of the scheme. SUSI has confirmed that the applicant appealed their decision and letter on the appeal issued on 7th January, 2013.
Maintenance support is not available for students entering postgraduate courses in the academic year 2012/13. Students entering approved postgraduates courses who meet the qualifying conditions for the special rate of grant will be eligible to have their post-graduate tuition fees paid up to the maximum fee limit under the Student Grant Scheme. Illness Benefit is considered to be a short-term payment and therefore it is not included as an eligible payment for the purposes of the special rates of maintenance grant.
Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down in writing by SUSI and remains of the view that the scheme has not been interpreted correctly in his/her case, an appeal form outlining the position may be submitted by the applicant to the independent Student Grant Appeals Board. The relevant appeal form will be available on request from SUSI.
