Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 May 2018
150. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Education and Skills the time limits used by SUSI when determining qualification by a person for a third level grant; the way in which a person can retrospectively gain an award they are entitled to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19692/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn line with the provisions of the annual student grant scheme and in order to deliver an efficient service and timely outcomes for students, SUSI implements key dates relevant to the submission and processing of student grant applications.
The SUSI online student grant application system for the 2017/18 academic year opened on 3 April 2017. Students were encouraged through all SUSI communication channels, including a national media advertising campaign and via the SUSI website, social media, publications, student/college outreach events, media and stakeholder information services, to apply before the published priority application processing dates of 15 June (renewing applicants) and 13 July (new applicants); so that their applications could be received and processed with priority by SUSI in advance of the commencement of the academic year in September 2017.
Following these dates, the online system remained fully open for all application types until the closing of the system on 2 November 2017.
In advance of the closing of the system on 2 November, students who had commenced online applications for the 2017/18 academic year but who had not completed and submitted their applications were e-mailed encouraging them to complete and submit their applications before 2 November.
The decision regarding whether to accept or reject a late application is a matter for SUSI and my Department has no role in this matter. Late applications received after 2 November will only be accepted by SUSI where: a course commences after this date; a change in circumstances occurs e.g. a change to a student’s nationality; or for extenuating circumstances that adversely affected the student e.g. a serious illness, death of an immediate family member etc.
Under Article 34 of the Student Grant Scheme, no application can be accepted later than “one month before the end of the academic year to which the application relates”.
