Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 February 2024
612. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 57 of 31 January 2024, the reason SUSI is refusing to accept child benefit as proof of residence for a home-schooled Irish born child of a resident Irish citizen, despite the fact that under statute such payments can only be made on Irish residency. [6057/24]
View answer613. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 57 of 31 January 2024, the reason SUSI is refusing to accept child benefit as proof of residence for a home-schooled Irish born child of a resident Irish citizen, despite the fact that under statute such payments can only be made on Irish residency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6059/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 612 and 613 together.
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 relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means.
In the absence of all of the relevant details that would be contained in an individual's grant application form and the accompanying supporting documentation, it would not be possible to say whether or not a student should qualify for grant assistance. This is a matter in the first instance for SUSI to determine.
However, in an effort to assist with your query, the below general information can be provided. SUSI must confirm that an applicant has been a resident in Ireland, the EU, EEA, UK or Switzerland for 3 of the last 5 years. If an applicant has been resident in Ireland for this period, they may be eligible for a maintenance and fee grant. If they have been resident in the EU, EEA, UK or Switzerland for this period, they may be eligible for a fee grant only.
In some cases, Child Benefit can be paid to a parent who is residing in Ireland in respect of child who is residing outside the state. For this reason, SUSI cannot determine the residency of an applicant based on a parent’s Child Benefit payment.
Here are examples of evidence that SUSI may accept for the purposes of proving residency:
• Evidence of an applicant sitting the Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate exams in Ireland or equivalent exams in the EU, UK, EEA or Switzerland if it was in the past five years.
• A letter from the Child and Family Agency confirming the applicant was registered as home educated in Ireland and the dates between which they were registered.
• Statements or other correspondence from bank/building society/credit union including eStatements with activity in the country outlined in their application.
• Other official correspondence from an Irish state agency e.g. government departments; HSE; Register of Electors/polling card; CAO; An Garda Síochána; public / private hospitals, Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) or third level college, secondary school/training agency, NCT reports or reminders, An Post, TV Licence, National Government Health Screening Programme(s) and/or; Correspondence from an insurance company regarding an active policy (home or car insurance policy only).
If an applicant is unable to provide one of the listed accepted documents and their application is refused, they have the right to appeal this decision in the first instance to SUSI and if unsuccessful they can further appeal to the independent Student Grants Appeals Board.
If the Deputy wishes to contact SUSI directly, there is a dedicated number for Oireachtas members at (01) 524 0015 or via the email address: oireachtas@susi.ie.
Question No. 613 answered with Question No. 612.
