687. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science If he will review the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will provide an update regarding their SUSI application. [66504/26]

The 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.

Article 22 of the Student Grant Scheme 2026 sets out for the awarding authority the determination of reckonable income. Reckonable income shall be determined by the awarding authority on the basis of information supplied in the application form and other relevant information and documentary evidence supplied. In calculating reckonable income, the awarding authority shall consider gross income from all sources.

Article 21 of the Student Grant Scheme 2026 sets out for the awarding authority the persons whose income is to be considered. When considering persons whose income is considered, the grant awarding authority (SUSI) are obliged to satisfy themselves beyond doubt that an acceptable degree of proof of marital status in the relevant period has been submitted by the grant applicant. SUSI provides a list of documents that are considered acceptable as evidence of separation. The onus is on the grant applicant to provide the necessary documentary evidence as proof of their circumstances.

An official from my Department has advised that SUSI received an application for grant funding from the student referred to by the Deputy on 14 August 2026.

SUSI issued letters to the student on 1 September and 2 September requesting the following documents:

• Employment Detail Summary for the applicant’s mother for the year 2025;

• Evidence of Separation for the applicant’s mother;

• Statement of Liability for the applicant’s mother for the year 2025.

On 1 September and 4 September 2026, your Office contacted SUSI on behalf of the student and was advised which documents SUSI could accept as confirmation of separation. SUSI advised that if the applicant’s mother did not have legal separation documents, separate utility bills for the separated parties covering the same time period may be accepted.

On 15 September 2026 your Office requested an update on the status of the application. SUSI advised that the required separation documents had not yet been received and provided a list of documents that they could accept as confirmation of separation:

• Separation agreement;

• Divorce decree;

• Court Ordered Maintenance Arrangement;

• Decree of dissolution for a civil partnership;

• Evidence from the Department of Social Protection confirming receipt of Deserted Wife's Allowance or a One-Parent Family Payment;

• If there is no legal agreement, a letter from your solicitor, in which your solicitor categorically confirms separation and/or that legal proceedings are pending;

• A letter/document from a Family Mediation Service, for example, the Legal Aid Board, that confirms you are participating in or have undergone family mediation;

• Proof of living separately, e.g. separate utility bills for the same time period in 2025. Please note that mobile phone bills and bank statements on their own are not accepted as proof of living separately.

Note: Affidavits are not accepted by SUSI for this purpose.

The student's application remains open and SUSI are awaiting documentary evidence as requested.

Please advise the student to submit the requested documentation as soon as possible and once SUSI receive these documents, they will be queued for review by SUSI’s assessment team.

I trust this clarifies the situation and I wish the student well in their studies.

688. Reply not received from Department.