Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 November 2016

Wednesday, 9 November 2016

Ceisteanna (99)

Catherine Connolly

Ceist:

99. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students that have been refused a SUSI grant due to the fact they could not comply with the rigid requirement for specific documentation in relation to proof of address and, more particularly, in relation to those students who live with a relative and-or a friend and do not have utility bills but notwithstanding that it is their home and their address for social protection payments; the number of appeals that have been made arising from these circumstances and the number that were successful; the number of appeals that have been made to the Student Grant Appeal Board and the number that were successful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33897/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

Very significant numbers of third-level students move out of home to go to college and continue to be supported by their parents while in full-time education. Confirmation that a student is living separately from his/her parents is, of itself, not sufficient to establish independent status.  When considering whether a student meets the conditions to be assessed independently of his or her parents, grant awarding authorities are obliged to satisfy themselves beyond doubt, that an acceptable degree of proof of independent living in the relevant period has been submitted by the grant applicant.

The onus is on the grant applicant to provide the necessary documentary evidence as requested by the relevant grant awarding authority. In this regard, a grant awarding authority will seek to assist students in identifying relevant documentation.

Appeals to both the awarding authority and the Student Grants Appeals Board can comprise of a number of issues in addition to student classification as independent/dependent.  As such, it is not possible to provide data in respect of the particular queries requested by the Deputy. However, if the Deputy has a specific query in respect of a constituent then an enquiry can be e-mailed direct to SUSI at [e-mail]. This dedicated e-mail service is provided by SUSI to Oireachtas members to ensure that all necessary avenues are open to applicants to receive the information they need. Staff in SUSI are responding to email queries within a matter of days.