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Citizenship Applications

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 October 2020

Tuesday, 13 October 2020

Questions (357)

Mark Ward

Question:

357. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps to be taken by persons who are entering university while waiting on results from citizenship applications; and the documents that need to be provided to universities in terms of deciding fees and SUSI applications by persons awaiting citizenship applications. [30044/20]

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Written answers

The principal support provided by the Department in financial terms is the Student Grant Scheme. Under the terms of the Student Grant Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding including those which relate to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means.

The nationality requirements for the Student Grant Scheme are set out in Section 14 of the Student Support Act 2011 and Regulation 5 of the Student Support Regulations 2020. To qualify for a student grant, it is the candidate's nationality or his/her immigration status in the State that determines whether or not he/she meets the nationality requirement outlined in the Act and Regulations.

The Department of Justice and Equality adjudicates on a person's entitlement to remain in the State and on the stamp that is awarded where permission to remain is sanctioned. I have been advised by my colleague Helen McEntee TD Minister of Justice, that the restrictions attendant to the current COVID-19 pandemic have regrettably resulted in significant challenges to the delivery of normal services and the previously advised 6 months processing timeline for standard applications has increased to just under one calendar year.

Article 32 of the Student Grant Scheme 2020 provides for a review of eligibility for the award of a grant in the event of a change of circumstances in the academic year, including a change in relation to a student's nationality or immigration status. Where a student acquires Irish citizenship by naturalisation, or is granted one of the permission to remain criterion provided for in the Act or Regulations during the course of their studies, he/she may apply to SUSI to have his/her application re-assessed.

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.

SUSI’s online application process for student grant applications for the 2020/21 academic year opened on 23rd April, 2020. The closing date for receipt of late applications by SUSI is 5th November, 2020.

The documentation required in support of the nationality requirements for student grant purposes will vary according to individual circumstances. Should a student wish to discuss his/her student grant eligibility or obtain information in relation to the supporting documentation requirements, the telephone number for SUSI’s Helpdesk is 0761 087 874. Further information regarding the nationality requirements of the Student Grant Scheme is also available from SUSI's website: https://susi.ie/eligibility__trashed/nationality-criteria/.

In relation to fees, all applicants for the Free Fees Initiative must meet the prescribed criteria of the scheme including residency and nationality. It is a matter for the higher education institution to which a student is attending to determine eligibility and students should consult with the institution attending to confirm the documentation required to support their application. The documentation required in support of the nationality requirements will vary according to individual circumstances. Eligibility under this scheme is determined at date of entry to the approved undergraduate course, however where a student acquires Irish; EU; EEA; Swiss Confederation; or United Kingdom citizenship during their course of study, such students may be assessed for free fees during their course of study where the student met all criteria of this scheme, apart from nationality, at date entry to their course study.

Where students do not qualify for free fees funding they must pay the appropriate fee, either EU or Non-EU, as determined by each higher education institution. Higher education institutions are autonomous bodies and therefore the criteria governing the level of fee payable by students (EU or non-EU) is a matter for the relevant institution to determine in line with its own criteria.

Apart from the Student Grant Scheme and Free Fees Initiative, the Deputy will be aware of the recently announced €168m funding package for the return to education. This package includes a €10m access support package for higher education students. I have approved the allocation of €8.1m of this funding to top up the Student Assistance Fund (SAF). The SAF assists students in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances. Institutions have the autonomy to maximise the flexibility in the Student Assistance Fund to enable HEIs to support students during the COVID-19 situation. Details of this fund are available from the Access Office in the third level institution attended.

Also tax relief at the standard rate of tax may be claimed in respect of tuition fees paid for approved courses at approved colleges of higher education including approved undergraduate and postgraduate courses in EU Member States and in non-EU countries. Further information on this tax relief is available from a student's local Tax office or from the Revenue Commissioners website www.revenue.ie.

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