Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 May 2013
243. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a full special maintenance grant was not issued by Student Universal Support Ireland in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry. [25257/13]
View answerThe decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter for the relevant grant awarding authority. The Deputy will appreciate that in the absence of all of the relevant details that would be contained in an individual's application form, including those relating to eligibility for the special rate of maintenance grant , it would not be possible for me to say whether or not a student would qualify for a grant.
Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the student referred to by the Deputy was ineligible for the special rate of maintenance grant as the reckonable income exceeded the threshold of €22,703. 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/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/her case, an appeal form outlining the position may be submitted by the applicant to the Student Grant Appeals Board. The relevant appeal form will be available on request from SUSI.
