The decision on eligibility for student grant assistance is a matter, in the first instance, for the centralised student grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) to determine.
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 may be submitted to the independent Student Grants Appeals Board within the required timeframe.
The number of students who appealed a SUSI grant refusal in each of the years 2016 to 2020 and to date in 2021 is a follows.
-
|
2016-17
|
2017-18
|
2018-19
|
2019-20
|
2020-21
|
2021-22*
|
Refusal and Appealed to SUSI
|
3,866
|
3,512
|
3,751
|
3,667
|
4,142
|
2,685
|
The number of students who were successful in their appeal of a SUSI initial grant refusal in each of the years 2016 to 2020 and to date in 2021:
-
|
2016-17
|
2017-18
|
2018-19
|
2019-20
|
2020-21
|
2021-22*
|
Upheld after a Refusal
|
1,871
|
1,527
|
1,733
|
1,472
|
1,540
|
813
|
*Please Note Current year (2021-22) may change as processing is ongoing.
Appeals to the Student Grant Appeals Board for the past five years as follows;
Academic Year
|
2017/18
|
2018/19
|
2019/20
|
2020/21
|
2021/22 as at 03/11/2021
|
No of Appeals*
|
660
|
699
|
739
|
772
|
703
|
Successful**
|
257
|
281
|
285
|
266
|
174***
|
*Does not include invalid, withdrawn or cancelled appeals.
** Does not include Refer back to AA
***Decision pending on 128 appeals