Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 November 2015
210. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a student will be assessed as financially independent from the student's parents with an affidavit from a solicitor swearing that the student is in fact financially independent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38923/15]
View answerThe decision on eligibility for new student grant applications is a matter for the centralised grant awarding authority, SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland).
The Deputy will appreciate that in the absence of all of the relevant details that would be contained in an individual's application form it would not be possible for me to say whether or not a student should qualify for a grant or what supporting documentation is required. This is a matter for SUSI to determine.
In general terms, when considering whether a student meets the conditions to be assessed independently of his or her parents, grant awarding authorities are obliged to satisfy themselves beyond doubt that an acceptable degree of proof of independent living in the relevant period has been submitted by the grant applicant.
In exceptional circumstances, where it is not possible to produce such proofs of residence for demonstrable reasons, the awarding body may, at its discretion, agree to accept other documentary evidence that provides an acceptable degree of proof of independent living. For example, while an affidavit, if accompanied by other supporting documentation, may be considered as evidence of independent living, an affidavit in isolation is not considered acceptable as sole proof of residency. Individual circumstances should be discussed by an applicant with the grant awarding authority.
