Wednesday, 15 Jan 2014

Written Answers Nos. 198-217

Education and Training Boards Staff

Questions (198)

Joe Higgins

Question:

198. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 43 of 4 December 2013 if he will instruct the city of Dublin and county of Dublin education and training boards to provide the information sought. [55478/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

County Dublin Education and Training Board has informed my Department that 5 Resource Persons were appointed to the Youthreach programme in County Dublin since 2005. These were appointed on the following points of the Resource Persons pay scale: 1 at point 1, 1 at point 3, 1 at point 6, 1 at point 7 and 1 at point 13. Details in respect of City of Dublin Education and Training Board were previously supplied to the Deputy in reply to Question 53973 / 13 on 17 December 2013.

Departmental Policy Reviews

Questions (199)

Simon Harris

Question:

199. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the review being undertaken on Irish language exemption; if consideration will be given to children with autism and Asperger's syndrome; when he expects this review to be complete; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55480/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

My Department is examining the question of exemptions from the study of Irish. It is important to note that this has to be done in light of the work which the NCCA is currently undertaking on a new integrated English / Irish curriculum at primary level and on a new specification for Irish at Junior Cycle. Consideration of a revised scheme for exemptions from the study of Irish will have to take into account these new curricula including how these are supportive of the learning needs of children with special educational needs A revised exemptions scheme will also have to consider the implications of the 20 year Strategy for Irish and the Gaeltacht Act, 2012. To progress this, data will have to be gather and evaluated. This process will then comprehensively inform further policy actions in this area.

School Transport Provision

Questions (200)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

200. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if school transport will be provided to a family (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55482/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

Under the terms of my Department's Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 3.2 kms from and are attending their nearest national school as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.

Bus Éireann, which operates the school transport scheme on behalf of my Department, has advised that the family in question is currently not availing of school transport.

Bus Éireann further advise that the service which can accommodate the family has a pick up /set down point less than a kilometre from the family home, which is within the guidelines for school transport provision.

The family have been advised of the position regarding their request for an extension to the existing service and in this regard they should continue to liaise with their local Bus Éireann office.

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Questions (201)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

201. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review eligibility for a higher education grant in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55483/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland that the student referred to by the Deputy has been awarded a postgraduate fee contribution of €2,000. Under the terms of the Student Grant Scheme 2013 postgraduate students who meet the qualifying conditions for the special rate of grant under the Student Grant Scheme will be eligible to have their post-graduate tuition fees paid up to the maximum fee limit of €6,270. To qualify for the special rate of grant an applicant must meet the following conditions:1. Reckonable income must not exceed €22,703. 2. On the 31st December of the relevant period the reckonable income must include an eligible long-term social welfare payment prescribed under the scheme. 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 Grants Appeals Board. The relevant appeal form is available to download from http://www.studentfinance.ie/downloads/1375344221/2013_SGAB_appeal_form.pdf.

Schools Building Projects Applications

Questions (202, 212)

Maureen O'Sullivan

Question:

202. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason Gaelscholáiste Reachrann, Artane, Dublin 5, was not included as one of the 70 schools picked for the new schools building programme, especially in view of the fact that 13 years on, this school still has no permanent building with 338 students attending and a projected growth of up to 500 students in 2017 and 14 of a total of 24 classrooms are in prefabricated buildings. [55490/13]

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

212. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a school (details supplied) in north Dublin will be included in the schools building programme in view of the growing student population at the school and the majority of the school’s classrooms being contained in prefabs. [55580/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 202 and 212 together.

I am pleased to advise the Deputies that a building project for the school to which they refer is currently at an early stage of the architectural planning process. Officials from my Department met with the school Patron's representatives recently regarding the progression of the project. The Patron and their Design Team are currently completing the Stage 2(a) report for submission to my Department. Following satisfactory completion of this report and subject to no issues arising, the project will be authorised to commence the application for statutory approvals, which includes the application for planning permission. The projects included in the 2014 Construction Programme announced on 29th November last are scheduled to proceed to construction in 2014 and are part of the Five Year Plan launched in March 2012. School building projects, including the project referred to by the Deputy, which have not been included in the five year construction programme, but which were previously initiated will continue to be progressed to final planning stages in anticipation of the possibility of further funds being available to the Department in the future. In the meantime, my Department approved funding to the school in February 2013 to provide two additional mainstream classrooms to cater for increasing enrolments. I understand that works are well advanced on site to provide this accommodation. I understand also that the school has recently submitted an application for further accommodation and that the application is currently being assessed. A decision will be conveyed to the school authority when the assessment process has been completed.

School Enrolments Data

Questions (203)

Eoghan Murphy

Question:

203. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 65 of 12 December 2013, if he has considered the introduction of PPS numbers on enrolment forms for schools as part of his new reforms in the area of admissions so as to assist in managing supply and demand and in order to minimise the practice of place-blocking where parents place their children on multiple school enrolment lists. [55493/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

As the Deputy is aware I have recently published a draft General Scheme for an Education (Admission to Schools) Bill, 2013 as well as draft regulations for discussion ahead of enacting legislation. These are available on my Department's website. The draft General Scheme and draft regulations are currently under consideration by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection. When the Committee has completed its consideration of the draft framework, I will reflect carefully on the Committee's report, including any recommendations that it may make in relation to the issue of multiple applications, before progressing to the next stage of legislation.

Summer Works Scheme Applications

Questions (204)

James Bannon

Question:

204. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on a funding application under the summer works scheme in respect of general necessary repairs to a school (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55505/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I wish to advise the Deputy that commensurate with the level of funding available for the Summer Works Scheme, applications are currently being assessed on a top down basis in accordance with the prioritisation criteria outlined in the governing Circular Letter for the Scheme. This Circular Letter (59/2013) is available on my Department's website www.education.ie. It is my intention to publish a list of successful applicants in early 2014.

School Accommodation

Questions (205, 206)

James Bannon

Question:

205. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide details of payments by his Department for the rental of prefabricated buildings for national and secondary schools in County Longford over the five-year period from 2007 to the end of 2012; if he will provide a breakdown of the amount paid for each school and the company the prefabricated buildings are rented from; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55507/13]

James Bannon

Question:

206. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide details of payments by his Department for the rental of prefabricated buildings for national and secondary schools in County Westmeath over the five year period from 2007 to the end of 2012; if he will provide a breakdown of the amount paid for each school and the company the prefabricated buildings are rented from; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55508/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 205 and 206 together. The following table outlines payments made to Primary and Post Primary Schools in Longford and Westmeath in respect of rented prefabricated units for the four years 2010 to end 2013. Information prior to 2010 is not available in the format requested.

2010
Roll no	School name	County	Annual Dept approval	Prefab provider
07518E	Melview NS	Longford	€17,026.76	Extraspace
19467G	St Mels	Longford	€15,100.80	Extraspace
20124G	St Marys NS	Longford	€110,476.87	Addacabin Ltd / Extraspace
20128O	St Matthews NS	Longford	€42,785.40	Ultrakabin
05916G	St Annes Ns Tyrrellspass	Westmeath	€18,404.06	Cabinpac
14603J	Convent Primary School	Westmeath	€22,368.06	Allspace
17025K	The Downs NS	Westmeath	€13,716.56	Instaspace
17102C	Cluain Buinne	Westmeath	€12,458.16	Allspace
17327D	Curraghmore NS	Westmeath	€81,483.96	Cabinpac / Instaspace / Roadmaster Caravans Ltd
17903N	Cornamaddy NS	Westmeath	€6,471.03	Roankabin
18262G	SN Lochan a'Bhealaigh	Westmeath	€11,113.56	Extraspace
18405C	St Paul's NS	Westmeath	€15,100.80	Instaspace
18505G	St Clares NS	Westmeath	€18,135.39	Roadmaster Caravans Ltd
18640M	St Josephs NS	Westmeath	€42,471.00	Cabinpac
18864L	Coosan NS	Westmeath	€28,906.38	Instaspace
19848S	St Etchens NS	Westmeath	€24,762.00	Ultrakabin
20063M	Scoil an Chlochair	Westmeath	€26,048.70	Instaspace
20073P	St Marys NS	Westmeath	€7,235.80	Instaspace
20238V	GS an Choillin	Westmeath	€81,543.60	Maccom
2011
Roll no	School name	County	Annual Dept approval	Prefab provider
07518E	Melview NS	Longford	€17,026.76	Extraspace
20124G	St Marys NS	Longford	€101,476.87	Addacabin Ltd
20128O	St Matthews NS	Longford	€42,785.40	Ultrakabin
05916G	St Annes Ns Tyrrellspass	Westmeath	€18,404.06	Cabinpac
14603J	Convent Primary School	Westmeath	€22,368.06	Allspace
17025K	The Downs NS	Westmeath	€13,716.56	Instaspace
17102C	Cluain Buinne	Westmeath	€12,458.16	Allspace
17327D	Curraghmore NS	Westmeath	€81,483.96	Cabinpac / Instaspace / Roadmaster Caravans Ltd
17903N	Cornamaddy NS	Westmeath	€6,471.03	Roankabin
18262G	SN Lochan a'Bhealaigh	Westmeath	€11,113.56	Extraspace
18405C	St Paul's NS	Westmeath	€15,100.80	Instaspace
18505G	St Clares NS	Westmeath	€18,135.39	Roadmaster Caravans Ltd
18640M	St Josephs NS	Westmeath	€42,471.00	Cabinpac
18864L	Coosan NS	Westmeath	€28,906.38	Instaspace
19848S	St Etchens NS	Westmeath	€24,762.00	Ultrakabin
20063M	Scoil an Chlochair	Westmeath	€26,048.70	Instaspace
20073P	St Marys NS	Westmeath	€7,235.80	Instaspace
20238V	GS an Choillin	Westmeath	€81,543.60	Maccom
2012
Roll no	School name	County	Annual Dept approval	Prefab provider
20124G	St Marys NS	Longford	€97,911.93	Addacabin / Extraspace
20128O	St Matthews NS	Longford	€43,492.60	Ultrakabin
05916G	St Annes Ns Tyrrellspass	Westmeath	€18,708.26	Cabinpac
17025K	The Downs NS	Westmeath	€14,115.42	Instaspace
17102C	Cluain Buinne	Westmeath	€12,611.96	Allspace
17327D	Curraghmore NS	Westmeath	€83,315.81	Cabinpac / Instaspace / Roadmaster Caravans Ltd
18262G	SN Lochan a'Bhealaigh	Westmeath	€11,297.26	Extraspace
18405C	St Paul's NS	Westmeath	€15,350.40	Instaspace
18505G	St Clares NS	Westmeath	€18,435.15	Roadmaster Caravans Ltd
18640M	St Josephs NS	Westmeath	€54,493.92	Cabinpac
18864L	Coosan NS	Westmeath	€29,384.17	Instaspace
19848S	St Etchens NS	Westmeath	€39,818.13	Ultrakabin
20063M	Scoil an Chlochair	Westmeath	€26,479.26	Instaspace
20073P	St Marys NS	Westmeath	€7,355.40	Instaspace
20238V	GS an Choillin	Westmeath	€104,829.71	Maccom / Accommodation & Building Systems Ltd
2013
Roll no	School name	County	Annual Dept approval	Prefab provider
20124G	St Marys NS	Longford	€120,425.85	Addacabin / Extraspace / McLoughlin & Sons
20128O	St Matthews NS	Longford	€43,492.60	Ultrakabin
05916G	St Annes Ns Tyrrellspass	Westmeath	€18,708.26	Cabinpac
17102C	Cluain Buinne	Westmeath	€12,611.96	Allspace
17327D	Curraghmore NS	Westmeath	€83,315.81	Cabinpac / Instaspace / Roadmaster Caravans Ltd
18505G	St Clares NS	Westmeath	€18,435.15	Roadmaster Caravans Ltd
18640M	St Josephs NS	Westmeath	€54,493.92	Cabinpac
18764H	Ardnagrath NS	Westmeath	€7,669.05	Shipcon Sales and Transport Ltd
19848S	St Etchens NS	Westmeath	€50,371.13	Ultrakabin
20063M	Scoil an Chlochair	Westmeath	€26,479.26	Instaspace
20073P	St Marys NS	Westmeath	€7,355.40	Instaspace
20188J	Mullingar ETNS	Westmeath	€35,178.00	Maccom
20238V	GS an Choillin	Westmeath	€104,829.71	Maccom / Accommodation & Building Systems Ltd

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Questions (207)

Michael Lowry

Question:

207. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will make a determination as to the eligibility of a course for the purposes of the student grant with Student Universal Support Ireland (details supplied); if the reason the grant has been allocated to a large number of students in this course and refused to others; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this course is a full-time, FETAC recognised course that leads to a qualification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55535/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Approved undergraduate courses for the Student Grant Scheme 2013 are prescribed in the Student Support Regulations 2013 and in the Student Support Act 2011. The Regulations prescribe that an approved undergraduate course is a full-time course leading to a major higher education and training award which takes a minimum of two years to complete in an approved institution. The Dental Nursing course referred to by the Deputy is not approved for the purposes of the Student Grant Scheme as it does not lead to a major higher education and training award. Officials in my Department have been advised by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that any awards made in respect of this course were done so in error. The Deputy will appreciate that some errors may inevitably arise when handling a high volume of applications within a relatively short timeframe. SUSI will be contacting applicants directly in relation to this matter.

Schools Site Acquisitions

Questions (208)

Michael McGrath

Question:

208. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps that are being taken to secure a permanent site for a school (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55538/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

As the Deputy may be aware, there is a Memorandum of Understanding between my Department and the County and City Managers' Association (CCMA). This Memorandum of Understanding fosters increased levels of cooperation and formalises the Local Authorities' part in identifying and securing sites for educational use. My Department is working in conjunction with Cork County Council in that regard towards securing a permanent site to meet the needs of the school referred to by the Deputy. I can advise the Deputy that a site is currently under consideration to meet the requirements of the school. However, due to the commercially sensitive nature of site acquisitions, I am not in a position to provide further details at this time. Once the acquisition of a site is finalised, the project will be progressed towards tender and construction stage.

Apprenticeship Programmes

Questions (209)

Joe Higgins

Question:

209. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will intervene in order that institutes of technology do not levy the student charge of approximately €833 on apprentices undertaking a ten week course in the institutes. [55548/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

The Annual Student Contribution is levied on students attending Institutes of Technology. The amount due in respect of full time students for the academic year 2013 / 2014 is €2,500. The contribution has been levied by Institutes of Technology in respect of apprentices since 2004, with FÁS/SOLAS paying part of the contribution and apprentices themselves paying the part relating to examination fees. As part of Budget 2014, SOLAS will cease making payments to Institutes of Technology and apprentices will pay the full pro rata Annual Student Contribution. This is a decision taken in the context of the overall savings this Department had to find for 2014 and future years. Apprentices will pay the same contribution as students, apportioned for the time they spend in the Institutes. Unlike students, apprentices are paid a training allowances by SOLAS for phases of their training spent in Institutes of Technology. This allowance is equivalent to the wages they receive from their employers for on the job phases and is unaffected by the budgetary changes. The decision has been taken against a difficult budgetary background and there is no scope to re-visit it.

Summer Works Scheme Applications

Questions (210)

Seán Fleming

Question:

210. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills if funding will be approved under the summer works scheme initiative 2014 for a school (details supplied) in County Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55557/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I wish to advise the Deputy that commensurate with the level of funding available for the Summer Works Scheme, applications are currently being assessed on a top down basis in accordance with the prioritisation criteria outlined in the governing Circular Letter for the Scheme. This Circular Letter (59/2013) is available on my Department's website www.education.ie. It is my intention to publish a list of successful applicants in early 2014.

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Questions (211, 231)

Tom Fleming

Question:

211. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will expedite a student grant appeal and award 100% non-adjacent rate and 100% maintenance grant and 100% fees and student contribution as previously confirmed in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55575/13]

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

231. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a grant in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1240/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 211 and 231 together.

Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the student referred to by the Deputy has been awarded the full non adjacent maintenance grant. She is not eligible for a fee grant as she is studying in a college outside the state.

It appears that the original grant award letter was sent in error. The Deputy will appreciate that some errors may inevitably arise when handling a high volume of applications within a relatively short timeframe.

If the applicant is unhappy with the decision in relation to their grant application he/she may appeal the decision to SUSI.

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 Grants Appeals Board. The relevant appeal form is available to download from http://www.studentfinance.ie/downloads/1375344221/2013_SGAB_appeal_form.pdf.

Question No. 212 answered with Question No. 202.

Student Grant Scheme Appeals

Questions (213)

Tom Fleming

Question:

213. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will expedite and award a student grant appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1001/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland that the grant application of the student referred to by the Deputy was refused and has been appealed to SUSI on 20th December, 2013. The appeal will be dealt with as soon as possible and the student will be informed directly of the outcome. 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 Grants Appeals Board. The relevant appeal form is available to download from http://www.studentfinance.ie/downloads/1375344221/2013_SGAB_appeal_form.pdf.

Pupil Data Collection

Questions (214)

Simon Harris

Question:

214. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Education and Skills the actions he proposes to take to ensure that there are adequate primary school places in an area (details supplied) for this September; the number of primary school places that are available in that area; the number of children that will be in need of a school place in that area this September based on data his Department uses to project such things; if his Department has been in discussion with the primary school in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1002/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Officials from my Department have ongoing contact with the school in the area to which the Deputy refers. The situation is being monitored to ensure that there are enough school places for children in the area in September 2014.

Pupil Data Collection

Questions (215)

Simon Harris

Question:

215. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Education and Skills the data his Department uses to determine the number of school places required in an area (details supplied); and based on that data the number of school places at primary level that will be required in that area for the next school year commencing in September 20014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1004/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

My Department uses a variety of data sources to determine the number of school places required in an area , including census data, school enrolment data and child benefit data obtained from the Department of Social Protection. In regard to the particular area to which the Deputy refers, officials from my Department are in regular contact with the schools in the area, and are continuing to monitor the situation to ensure that there are enough pupil places to meet the overall needs of the area.

Bullying in Schools

Questions (216)

Simon Harris

Question:

216. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the implementation of the action plan on bullying for schools; the actions that have been taken to progress the implementation of the following recommendations contained within the plan; new national anti-bullying policy for schools, review of teacher education support service provision, co-ordinated training and resource development for Boards of Management and parents and a new national anti-bullying website; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1006/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

My colleague, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, and I published the Action Plan on Bullying on 29 January 2013. Since then, good progress has been made on implementing actions designed to help prevent and tackle bullying in primary and second level schools. New National Procedures on Anti Bullying were launched last September. These are currently being adopted and implemented by all 4,000 primary and post primary schools in the country. I have also made available funding for anti-bullying training for parents. Training sessions for parents, which are run jointly by the National Parents Council (primary and post primary), began last October and continue to be rolled out throughout the country. Arising from the review of teacher education support service provision, a phased programme of continuing professional development (CPD) has been developed to support schools in relation to the Action Plan and the Anti-Bullying Procedures. The initial focus of this programme is to ensure access for schools to appropriate resources and support to meet the requirements of the new procedures and is scheduled to commence in February 2014. This support will be provided through the support service and education centre network this year. As in 2013, my Department will support Safer Internet Day 2014, which will be celebrated in Ireland on Tuesday 11 February 2014. This will be promoted through the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) and Webwise.ie and will include a social marketing campaign specifically targeted at young people, to address internet safety issues, including cyberbullying. My Department supported the Stand Up! Awareness Week Against Homophobic & Transphobic Bullying in second level schools which took place in March 2013 and will again support this initiative in 2014. Two pieces of research suggested in the Plan have also been undertaken and will be completed in the coming months. One piece of research concerns bullying issues for children with special needs, the other is in relation to social media and mental health.Planning for the implementation of the other actions identified in the Plan including the development of the national anti-bullying website and training for the boards of management is in train.

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Questions (217)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

217. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will personally intervene in the case of a student (details supplied) in Dublin 7 and ensure that she is assessed for a SUSI grant in her own right as an estranged young person under 23; if he is aware that she has been told by SUSI that she will not be assessed as estranged unless she can produce a letter from a Health Service Executive social worker or other officer attesting to this fact; if he is also aware that she has had no HSE social work involvement in her life and the HSE social workers or officers will not see her unless she is under 18; if he is also aware that SUSI will apply no flexibility to these rules; if he is further aware that the Department of Social Protection are satisfied that she does not reside with her family; if he will ensure that she receives a payment from SUSI; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1032/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

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 years 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. Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland that in the case of the student referred to by the Deputy the original decision of the awarding authority was upheld on appeal by the SUSI appeals officer. 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. 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.