Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 September 2022
418. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason that a person (details supplied) has monies outstanding to Maynooth University; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44753/22]
View answerThe Student Grant Scheme, administered by SUSI, provides grant assistance to students pursuing an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means.
I have been advised by my officials that the student outlined by the Deputy registered onto a course in the Technological University of Dublin (TUD), and, onto a course in Maynooth University in the 2021/2022 academic year. Where students are registered with a college and withdraw after 31 October and before the end of January, colleges are entitled to claim half the fees awarded. As the student in question did not withdraw from TUD until December 2021, TUD correctly made a claim to SUSI for half the fees awarded. SUSI does not have discretion in deciding to pay fee claims made by colleges. The onus is on the student to ensure that they withdraw correctly from a course onto which they have previously registered.
As things stand, this student’s full fee grant entitlement has been paid in accordance with the registration details received by SUSI and valid fee claims submitted by both colleges on the basis of the student having registered on both courses and not formally withdrawn or deregistered within the timeframe necessary to avoid a charge becoming due.
If the student in question were to request that TUD backdate their withdrawal date to an earlier date prior to 31 October 2021, the student could then notify SUSI who could request a refund from TUD, and, once fees were refunded, advise Maynooth to invoice for the outstanding balance.
