Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 October 2013
280. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the distance from college for students to be considered eligible for the non-adjacent grant to cover a distance less than 45km (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40966/13]
View answerUnder Budget 2011, the qualifying distance criterion for the non-adjacent rate of student grant increased from 24 km to 45 km. The proposal to amend the distance to qualify for the higher non-adjacent rate to 45 km took into account a reasonable radius in which students could be expected to commute on a daily basis. There are no plans at present to revise the distance criteria. The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter for an applicant's grant awarding authority. Where an applicant is not satisfied with the decision of the grant awarding authority, he/she may submit an appeal to have the decision reviewed.
