Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 May 2014
192. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding Student Universal Support Ireland grants where the student is in receipt of a grant and back to education allowance, their spouse is on a disability payment and they are above the threshold to receive full fees, if consideration will be given where there are dependent children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22142/14]
View answerThe decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter in the first instance for the awarding authority. The Deputy will appreciate that in the absence of all the relevant details that would be contained in an individual's application, it would not be possible for me to say whether or not a student would qualify for a grant. 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 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.
