Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 July 2013
225. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide further information explaining the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway, who has provided substantial evidence of independent residency, has been refused his or her grant from Student Universal Support Ireland on these grounds; his views on whether the regulations in this regard are too strict; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36262/13]
View answerOfficials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the applicant referred to by the Deputy was issued with a decision on the 2nd May 2013 advising her that she was deemed ineligible to receive a grant. Following an appeal to the SUSI Appeals Officer the original decision of the awarding authority was upheld and a decision letter issued on 10th July, 2013. 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. For student grants purposes, a student may be assessed as an independent student if he/she has attained the age of 23 on the 1st of January of the year of first entry to an approved post leaving certificate course or an approved higher education course or of re-entry to an approved course following a break in studies of at least three years, and is not ordinarily resident with his/her parents from the previous 1 October. Otherwise he/she would continue to be assessed on the basis of his/her parents' income. In recognition of the fact that a student under 23 yeas of age can be estranged from his/her parents, it is possible under the student grant scheme, as an exceptional measure, for such a student to be assessed without reference to his/her parents/guardians income. However, compelling independent evidence of estrangement must be provided to the grant awarding authority to enable this. The type of independent evidence includes a letter from a social worker or other appropriate officer of the Health Service Executive explaining the circumstances of the estrangement. Confirmation that a student is living separately from his/her parents/guardians is not sufficient. I have no plans at present to change the eligibility arrangements in respect of students under the age of 23 who apply for a student grant.
