Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 December 2015
245. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will address a matter (details supplied) regarding allowing correspondence from the Department of Social Protection as proof of address for applications to Student Universal Support Ireland. [43256/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFor student grants purposes, students are categorised according to their circumstances either as students dependent on parents or a legal guardian, or as independent mature students.
An independent student must be a mature student, aged 23 or over on entry to college (or re-entry after a break in studies of at least 3 years) who has not lived with his or her parents for a period before entering college. Independent students are deemed to be self-supporting and are assessed without reference to their parents' incomes. The assessment as an independent mature student has to be carefully considered to ensure it is highly targeted at very specific circumstances where students can demonstrate that they have been genuinely self-supporting and living independently for a period of time before commencing their studies. Otherwise, he or she would continue to be assessed on the basis of parental income.
If the student to whom the Deputy refers considers that she has been unjustly refused a student grant or that the rate of grant awarded is not the correct one, she may appeal in the first instance to SUSI.
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 her case, an appeal form outlining the position may be submitted by the applicant to the independent Student Grants Appeals Board.
