Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 November 2014
907. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the options available to a married couple who are separated, although not legally, and whose child is prohibited from getting a grant as they cannot demonstrate they are legally separated, even though if they were still together their income would be sufficiently low to quality for a grant. [41645/14]
View answerThe Student Grant Scheme 2014 states that where a dependent student's parents are divorced or legally separated, or it is established to the satisfaction of the relevant authority that they are separated, the income to be assessed is that of the student and the parent with whom she/he resides. Where the student cannot establish to the satisfaction of the awarding authority that her/his parents are separated (legally or otherwise) then the income to be assessed is that of both parents.
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 her/his 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
