Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 December 2012
11. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the number of Student Universal Support Ireland grant applications refused, those allowed and those still in progress; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54603/12]
View answer20. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of grants Student Universal Support Ireland have processed to date; the number of applications currently being processed each week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54659/12]
View answer28. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Education and Skills the total number of applications received by Student Universal Support Ireland and the total number of applications paid to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54820/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 11, 20 and 28 together.
I understand from Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that, as at the close of business on the 4th December, it has received 66,827 student grant applications for this year. Processing of 31,973 applications are now complete - 19,157 have been awarded, or awarded pending submission of final course details and 12,816 applications have been refused or cancelled. SUSI has 8,049 applications on hand which are currently being processed. Only 295 of these are new applications that have yet to commence processing. SUSI is awaiting submission of documentation by the student on the remaining applications.
As at 30th November 7,132 students awarded a maintenance grant have been paid. Maintenance grant payment runs are continuing on a weekly basis to ensure students get paid as soon as possible after they submit their bank accounts details and their institutions confirm their attendance. In addition, 3,193 have been awarded a "fees only" grant (either the student contribution or fees) – these payments are being made directly to the relevant institution. The number of applications being processed has been increasing incrementally in recent weeks. 5,545 were processed in the week ending Sunday 25th November. 7,666 applications were processed in the week ending Sunday 2nd December. SUSI has indicated that it is on target to progress all applications received to date with the necessary supporting documentation between now and the end of the year.
