I propose to take Questions Nos. 100, 101, 104, 105 and 108 together.
As advised to the Deputy in previous Parliamentary Questions, for student grants purposes, students are categorised according to their circumstances either as students dependent on parents or a legal guardian, or as independent mature students. Where the applicant is a dependent student, the income of the applicant and his/her parents must be taken into account in calculating whether the means are within the limits to be eligible for a grant.
The Student Grant Scheme S.I. No 159 of 2013 makes provision in Article 21(3) which allows a dependent student to be exempted from having parents' income taken into account where it is established to the satisfaction of the relevant awarding authority that the dependent student is irreconcilably estranged from both of his or her parents and neither of his or her parents furnishes financial support to him or her. This provision allows the awarding authority to assess dependent students, in genuine estrangement cases, without reference to their parents/guardians income or address. Cases of genuine estrangement are relatively rare and each one has unique circumstances. The scheme does not stipulate precisely how an awarding authority satisfies itself. This is to allow the grant awarding authority sufficient flexibility to assess the evidence of irrevocable estrangement in each individual case. The assessment of a case of estrangement however has to be carefully considered to ensure there is sufficient evidence to demonstrate that the exceptional circumstances pertaining in such cases genuinely exists. The type of evidence required is dependent on the applicant's individual circumstances. Compelling evidence of irreconcilable estrangement must be provided to allow a grant awarding authority to fully satisfy itself that the conditions for the application of exemption are met. An awarding authority in assessing the evidence presented will have regard to the particular circumstances in each case and the corroborative nature of the evidence available to support the claim of estrangement. Different State support schemes have different objectives and in this case parents have a responsibility to support their children attending college. Where they fail to do so, the grant awarding authority must satisfy itself that genuine and irreconcilable estrangement exists. Confirmation that a student is living separately from his/her parents/guardians is not sufficient, as very significant numbers of third level students move out of the family home while at college and continue to be supported by their parents while in full-time education. The purpose of the student grant scheme is to provide an additional assistance where parental income is below a certain threshold and warrants additional assistance by way of a grant. Evidence from services, including the Courts services and the Health Service Executive, working in a professional capacity with the family of the student, which demonstrates and confirms the genuine and irreconcilable nature of the estrangement would generally be necessary for an awarding authority to satisfy itself of the veracity of the case. The appropriate officer(s) depends the individual's particular circumstances. A letter from a GP would generally not be acceptable in isolation. However, where a GP could demonstrate referring the student to relevant professional support services, the GP report could be considered in conjunction with a report from the specific support service utilised.
