Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 January 2014
296. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the eligibility for special rate of higher education grant in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4152/14]
View answerOfficials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the student referred to by the Deputy has been awarded a postgraduate fee contribution of €2,000 and is ineligible to have his fees paid up to the maximum fee limit.
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. The Student Assistance Fund will continue to be made available through the access offices of third-level institutions to assist students in exceptional financial need.
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 www.studentfinance.ie.
