Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 April 2024
756. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if a SUSI application by person (details enclosed) will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16236/24]
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.
The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the centralised student grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) to determine.
As per Article 13(3) of the Student Grant Scheme 2023, as an Independent Student the applicant must be:
• 23 years of age or over on 1st January of the year when they first enter/re-enter further or higher education, and
• They must have been living independently from their parents/legal guardians from the October in the year prior to their first point of entry/re-entry into further or higher education and will be required to provide evidence of this.
The student referred to by the Deputy has not submitted an application to SUSI. However, the student contacted the SUSI support desk on the 5th and 8th of April to enquire about how to prove Independent status. The officials at SUSI outlined the criteria for Independent status to the student on both occasions.
The student should make an application to SUSI on their website at www.susi.ie.
