Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 January 2013
249. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students still awaiting a decision and payment of their higher education grant on the 1 January 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57978/12]
View answer292. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide the figure as of 1 January 2013, on the number of students still waiting for their grants to be processed; if there are proposals to undertake an external review of Student Universal Supplement Ireland to ensure that this type of situation will never again occur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1232/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 249 and 292 together.
As at close of business on 2 January, the situation in relation to the 67,322 student grant applications was reported by SUSI as follows:
- 43,015 (64%) were complete - awarded, provisionally awarded or refused;
- 22,978 (34%) were awaiting documentation from students – 10,524 of which have not yet provided any documentation;
- 1,329 (2%) were currently with SUSI for processing (1,217) or with Abtran for verification of documentation (112).
Of the 26,883 awarded or provisionally awarded a grant on that date, some 5,266 were fee only awards. 14,908 had received their maintenance payment. The remaining students awarded a maintenance grant who had yet to be paid was in the region of 5,000. SUSI continuing to make payments on a weekly basis to ensure students can get paid their grant as expeditiously as possible, once they have been awarded a grant. Those awarded a grant must supply bank account details and confirmation of registration must be received from the institution in order for the first instalment to be paid.
Figures are not available for 1 January 2013. This data has been provided to my Department by SUSI.
An external review of SUSI's business processes will be put in place in the coming weeks to inform improvements in the system for the 2013/14 academic year. The proposed timeline for completion of the review is March 2013.
