Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 December 2015
193. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status and eligibility to reactivate a higher education grant in the future for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44594/15]
View answerThe Deputy will appreciate that, in the absence of all of the relevant details that would be contained in an individual's application form and supporting documentation, it is not possible to say whether or not a particular student would qualify for a grant at some point in the future. This is a matter for SUSI to determine if/when the student reapplies for grant support.
In general terms the Student Support Scheme 2015 does provide an awarding authority with discretion to award a grant for a repeat period of study in exceptional circumstances under Article 15(8). An awarding authority will treat each application for repeat funding on a case by case basis and will have regard to issues such as the nature of the exceptional circumstances, how it impacted on the applicant's capacity to sit exams and the documentary evidence provided by the applicant. Details of how this provision applies are available on SUSI's website at http://susi.ie/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/2015-Student-Grant-Scheme-Guidelines-for-an-Awarding-Authority.pdf.
