Student grant applicants to be told of changes to reporting income

Student grant applicants will be given clearer information this year on the ability to report reduced incomes, after hundreds had to make appeals that could have been avoided.

As reported by the Irish Examiner, significant numbers of those who appealed grant refusals were students whose family circumstances had changed. The grant process requires information on income for the previous year but applicants can point out if there has been a fall in income in the year they apply.

Latest figures show that 5,275 of around 59,000 students to make applications have appealed decisions by Student Universal Support Ireland (Susi) to refuse grants. Department of Education secretary general Seán Ó Foghlú told the Dáil Public Accounts Committee on Thursday that the fact that 3,264, or 61% of those appeals, succeeded has raised a flag and Susi has been asked for a report on the reasons.