Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 May 2026
327. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the funding options available for a person (details supplied) to continue their studies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38123/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Student Grant Scheme, administered by SUSI, provides grant assistance 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 for the centralised student grant awarding authority SUSI to determine.
SUSI have advised my Department that they received an application from the student in question and because the applicant applied as an independent student and were under 23 years of age at their first point of entry to higher education, their current application has been cancelled to allow them to reapply as a mature dependent.
To be classed as an independent student an applicant must be 23 years of age or over on 1 January of the year when they first enter/re-enter further or higher education.
An applicant's class is defined at his or her first point of entry to an approved post leaving certificate course or an approved higher education course or at his or her point of re-entry to such an approved course, and will continue to apply for the duration of his or her studies. Re-entry means a mature student entering an approved course following a break in studies of at least three years, having previously attended an approved course.
The applicant was under 23 and therefore classed as a dependent student when they first entered higher education in the 2025/26 academic year.
While they do now meet the age criteria to be classed as independent, as they do not have the required three-year break in studies, they cannot be reclassified as independent and must be assessed with reference to their parents/legal guardians’ income as a dependent student.
Once a further application form is received by SUSI it will assess the application, and the student will receive a letter advising them of the outcome of the assessment.
