Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 June 2026
917. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the financial assistance available to a person on a stamp 4 visa (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46968/26]
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.
The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the awarding authority, SUSI to determine.
An official from my Department has advised that the student referred to by the Deputy has not submitted an application to SUSI for the 2026/27 academic year.
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 nationals 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 2026.
I would encourage the applicant to check the eligibility indicator on the SUSI Website at the following link: SUSI Eligibility Indicator - Get Started (www.susi.ie/eligibility-reckoner-app-irish/) to see if they may be eligible.
I trust this clarifies the situation and I wish the student well in their studies.
