Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 June 2022
688. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the Cabinet decision on increasing the amount that a SUSI applicant can earn will apply to applications already in process. [34147/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraReckonable income under the Student Grant Scheme is household income from all sources including income from a student’s employment.
When assessing reckonable income under the Student Grant scheme it is the previous year’s income that is assessed. Therefore applications to SUSI for the academic year 2022/2023 are assessed based on household income earned in 2021. The increase of the deduction to €6,552 as agreed by Cabinet on 21/06/22 will be reflected in the Student Grant Scheme for 2023 as it is only at that stage that SUSI would consider student’s income that is earned in non-term time for 2022.
While the 2023 Scheme will not be finalised until 2023 I secured Government approval at this point so that students could be informed of the proposed change and make them aware that they can earn up to €6,552 during non-term time in 2022 without being concerned that it will affect their eligibility for a student grant.
Income from an applicant’s employment which represents holiday earnings outside of term time but within the reference period up to a maximum of €4,500 for the 2022/23 scheme may be deducted from the total reckonable income assessed.
