Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 December 2025
775. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason a person (details supplied) is being refused a SUSI grant in view of circumstances (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73417/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraA student may be assessed as an independent student (i.e. assessed without reference to parental income and address) if they have attained the age of 23 on the 1st of January of the year of first entry or re-entry (following a break in study of at least 3 years) to an approved further or higher education course, and is not ordinarily resident with their parents from the previous 1st October. This status continues for the duration of their study.
Only in exceptional cases, where compelling evidence of estrangement from parents/guardians is provided, can candidates who are under 23 be assessed without reference to their parents/guardians income or address, Article 21(3) (b) of the Scheme refers. If an applicant is irreconcilably estranged from their parents or legal guardians, they can declare this on their SUSI application. Such applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis by a specialist assessment team who are dedicated to giving them the care and thorough consideration required around such a sensitive issue. Applicants are requested to provide documentary evidence of estrangement to confirm their situation. The type of documentary evidence required is dependent on the applicant’s individual circumstances and may vary widely from case to case.
An official from my Department has advised that the student referred to by the Deputy applied to the awarding authority, SUSI for grant funding and was refused as they did not provide sufficient evidence of estrangement from their parent. The student then appealed this decision on 18 November 2025 and the SUSI appeals officer refused the appeal on 1 December 2025, because the documents submitted were insufficient to support their estrangement from their parent.If an applicant is not satisfied with the outcome of the SUSI appeal, they may submit a further appeal to the independent Student Grants Appeals Board (SGAB).
As of today, I’ve been informed that the Board has not yet received an appeal from the student. If they wish to proceed, please advise the student to ensure their appeal is submitted within 30 days of the SUSI appeal decision, and include any additional documentation that may support their case. An appeal can be lodged online at: www.studentgrantappeals.ie
I hope that this clarifies the situation and I wish the student the very best with their studies.
