Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 January 2026
468. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of an appeal for a SUSI grant for a person (details supplied): when a decision is likely to be reached in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7320/26]
View answerThe main support available to students is the statutory based Student Grant Scheme which is administered by SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland). Under the terms of the Student Grant Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means.
In terms of residency, to be eligible for a grant, you must demonstrate that you have been resident in the Irish State, the EU, EEA, UK or Swiss Federation for three of the last five years on the day before the start of an approved course of study. There are no exemptions to this residency rule. It applies to all applicants including Irish people returning from abroad to undertake studies in Ireland. The nationality requirements for the Student Grant Scheme are set out in Section 14 of the Student Support Act 2011 and Regulation 5 of the Student Support Regulations 2025.
It is also possible for students, who did not meet the residency requirement at the commencement of their studies, to have their eligibility reviewed if they meet the residency requirement during the course of their studies.
With regard to the specific application, I have been advised by my officials that the application for grant funding, by the student to whom the Deputy refers, was refused as they did not meet the residency requirements for a grant award as per Section 14 of the Student Support Act 2011 and Regulation 5 of the Student Support Regulations 2025. The student had not been ordinarily resident for at least 3 of the last 5 years in Ireland, the EU, the EEA or Switzerland on the day before the applicant had commenced study on an approved course.
The student appealed this decision, and they were again refused as the SUSI Appeals Officer determined that the documentation the student submitted was insufficient as it did not cover 3 full years out of the last 5. A letter was issued to the student on Monday, 26 January 2025 advising them of this.
Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down in writing by an appeals officer in SUSI and remains of the view that the scheme has not been interpreted correctly in his/her case, an appeal may be submitted to the independent Student Grants Appeals Board within the required timeframe (i.e. not later than 30 days after the notification of the determination of the appeals officer to the applicant). Such appeals can be made by the appellant online via www.studentgrantappeals.ie.
Apart from the Student Grant Scheme, students in third-level institutions experiencing exceptional financial need can apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund. This Fund assists students, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances. Information on the fund is available through the Access Office in the third level institution attended.
