Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Student Universal Support Ireland

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 October 2020

Tuesday, 20 October 2020

Ceisteanna (80)

Gary Gannon

Ceist:

80. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will consider removing the rules within SUSI that do not allow students to be reclassified from the point of entry unless they take a three-year break in their education, which is unfairly targeting independent students. [31363/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The purpose of the Student Grant Scheme is to provide additional assistance where parental income is below a certain threshold, or in the case of independent mature students, where the level of income of the student and his or her spouse warrants additional assistance by way of a grant.

For student grant purposes, students are categorised according to their circumstances either as students dependent on parents or a legal guardian, or as independent mature students.

A student may be assessed as an independent student - in other words assessed without reference to parental income and address if they have attained the age of 23 on the 1st of January of the year of first entry to an approved course and they were not ordinarily resident with his or her parents from the previous 1st of October.

Otherwise, they would be assessed as a dependent student; that is, assessed with reference to parental income and address.

A student’s status for grant purposes is defined at their first point of entry to an approved course or at their point of re-entry to an approved course following a break in studies of at least three years. This classification continues to apply for the duration of their studies.

Subject to meeting the eligibility criteria a student may reclassify from a dependent student to an independent student when they progress from further education to higher education or if they are returning as a "second chance" student after a five year break in studies. This is intended as an access measure for mature students.

Applicants who do not meet the criteria to be assessed as an independent student for grant purposes, or who cannot supply the necessary documentation to establish independent living for the required period, may still apply to SUSI to have their grant eligibility assessed as a dependent student. Relevant information, including details of parental income, would be required by SUSI to determine grant eligibility as a dependent student.

In line with the Programme for Government, I recently announced plans to review the SUSI scheme. It is intended that the Review will commence before the end of 2020, and will report in Summer 2021. Stakeholders will be consulted as part of the Review process, and it is intended that the future direction of the SUSI scheme will be guided by the outcome of the Review.

The existing rules reflect the fact that very significant numbers of third-level students move out of home to go to college and continue to be supported by their parents, where their parents have sufficient means, while in full-time education. Therefore, any proposed changes would need careful consideration. The forthcoming Review of the SUSI scheme provides a suitable means to do so.

Barr
Roinn