Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 July 2022
483. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason for the anomaly between his Department and the Department for Social Protection in relation to the assessment of grants for the back to education scheme as in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35455/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for SUSI to determine. For the 2022/23 academic year, student grant applications will be assessed based on gross income from all sources for the period 1st January 2021 to 31st December 2021.
Particular priority is afforded to those on the lowest incomes and social welfare dependents through the special rate of grant, which is payable at the higher non-adjacent rate of €6,115 or the adjacent rate of €2,575, depending on the distance travelled to the college attended.
In assessing an application for the 2022/23 academic year, SUSI will have regard to the following qualifying criteria for the special rate of maintenance grant:
1. The student must qualify for the standard rate of grant;
2. Total reckonable income, after income disregards and Child Dependent Increase(s) are excluded, must not exceed €24,500;
3. As at 31st December 2021, the reckonable income must include one of the eligible long-term social welfare payments prescribed in Schedule 2 of the Student Grant Scheme 2022.
The student to whom the Deputy refers has been awarded the full Band 1 non-adjacent rate of maintenance grant, together with 100% rate of Student Contribution/Tuition Fees whichever applies by SUSI on 31st May 2022. As the student was not in receipt of an eligible special rate payment on 31st December 2021 she could not be awarded the special rate of grant. The student is currently proceeding through the appeals process in SUSI.
Any student who believes his/her student grant application has been assessed incorrectly may also avail of the opportunities to appeal to SUSI and subsequently to the independent Student Grants Appeals Board within the prescribed timeline.
Students in receipt of the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) are not eligible for maintenance support under the student grant scheme, as this would result in a duplication of income support payments. However, students in receipt of BTEA, may be considered for SUSI fee supports up to a maximum of €6,270.
