Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 January 2023
279. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if there are plans to make SUSI grant supports available to those who have obtained stamp 4 residence permits via the regularisation of the long-term undocumented persons scheme. [2474/23]
View answerUnder 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 relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means.
With regard to the residency criterion, in order to be eligible for a grant, a "student", as defined in Section 14 of the Student Support Act 2011, must demonstrate that he/she has been resident in the State for at least three years out of the five year period ending on the day before the start of his/her approved course of study. The act sets out that a person shall not be entitled to derive any benefit from a period of unlawful presence in the State.
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 2022.
Applications for the Regularisation of the Long Term Undocumented Migrant Scheme closed on 31 July 22. My Department has and continues to liaise with the Department of Justice on this issue.
