Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 October 2022
561. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the process that is employed in appealing a decision made on a SUSI grant; the person who presides over the decision-making process in both the first and second instance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49671/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Student Grant Scheme is administered by the centralised national grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland), a business unit of CDETB (City of Dublin Education and Training Board), on behalf of the Department. The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter for SUSI to determine.
If an individual applicant considers that he/she has been unjustly refused a student grant, he/she may appeal, in the first instance, to the awarding body SUSI. Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down in writing by the Appeals Officer in SUSI and remains of the view that the scheme has not been interpreted correctly in his/her case, an appeal outlining the position may be submitted by the applicant to the independent Student Grants Appeals Board.
The Student Grant Appeals Board (the Board) was established under Section 25 of the Student Support Act 2011 and under Section 21(4)(a) is independent in the performance of its functions. Appointments to the Board are in compliance with The Public Appointments Service (PAS) process.
Under Section 25 (4) of the Student Support Act, the Appeals Board shall consist of a Chairperson and such number of ordinary members as shall by determined by the Minister but which in any case shall not exceed 11 persons.
The term of office of the Appeals Board is for 5 years and the current Board commenced in September 2021.
The current Board comprises of a Chairperson and 6 ordinary members.
The independent Board meets on a regular basis and adjudicates on the cases submitted.
