Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 November 2013
73. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kerry is deemed ineligible for a third level grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48492/13]
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 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 that a letter issued to the student referred to by the Deputy on 21st October 2013 advising that her original application as an independent mature student had been cancelled and that she should reapply as a dependent student. Her new application will be processed when received.
Where an individual applicant considers that she has been unjustly refused a student grant, or that the rate of grant awarded is not the correct one, she 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 is available to download from http://www.studentfinance.ie/downloads/1375344221/2013_SGAB_appeal_form.pdf.
