Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 9 September 2024
1960. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the income that is assessed in the case of an applicant who may apply for SUSI grant funding whose parents are deceased and who is in the care of a guardian; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33990/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the centralised student grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) to determine.
When a dependent applicant is applying to SUSI and their parents are deceased, the income of their guardian may be considered when assessing their grant application, depending on the legal status of the guardianship.
A legal guardian is a person who has been appointed by a court and has the legal authority and corresponding duty to make decisions for another person. The student’s income and that of their legal guardian(s) is included in the assessment of applications from dependent and mature dependent students.
Income from guardians who are not court appointed legal guardians is not included when calculating the reckonable income of a dependent student’s application.
If an applicant considers they have been unjustly refused a student grant, or that the rate of grant awarded is not the correct one, they may appeal, in the first instance, to SUSI. If they have had an appeal turned down in writing by an appeals officer in SUSI and remain of the view that the scheme has not been interpreted correctly in their 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.
