Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 July 2023
866. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if, with regard to income thresholds for SUSI eligibility, he will examine the refusal of a SUSI grant to a student (details supplied); if he will investigate whether an exception can be made and expedited given, the deadline for response/appeal to SUSI. [35166/23]
View answerAssessment of means under the Student Grant Scheme 2023 is based on gross income from all sources, of the dependent applicant and his/her parents. No deduction is given for outgoings with the exception of pension contributions, legally enforceable maintenance payments and employment related expenses as approved by Revenue.
For the purposes of determining the reckonable income of an applicant, the aggregate overtime shall be deducted for the reference period that are not recurring payments.
The student referred to by the Deputy submitted an appeal to the SUSI appeals officer on the 6th June 2023. Documentary evidence that the overtime was non-recurring was requested by the Appeals Officer. SUSI have advised that documents received on 22 June 2023, did not confirm that overtime had ceased and would not recur. The appeal was refused by the SUSI appeals officer and a letter advising of this was sent to the applicant on 23 June 2023.
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. Such appeals can be made by the appellant on line via www.studentgrantappeals.ie .
