Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 October 2013
51. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps taken to date in this academic year to improve the processing of student grants through Student Universal Support Ireland; if an improved system of collecting and recording documentation has been implemented; if the rate of processed applications has improved this year on the same period last year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43111/13]
View answerI understand from Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that in preparation for the 2013/2014 academic year, the grants administration process has undergone significant development to enhance its effectiveness and deal with the difficulties experienced last year. SUSI has implemented a number of initiatives recommended by an independent review. These include direct information sharing with Government bodies and other agencies including the Revenue Commissioners, the Department of Social Protection and the CAO. I understand that these links have significantly reduced the number of documents required from students in processing grant applications and that SUSI is now some months ahead of its processing position at this time last year. In September 2013, SUSI reported that 41,000 students had returned their documents and that 20,000 of these applications had already been processed at the final assessment stage. The comparative figures for 2012 were 6,500 students that had returned documents and 4,300 applications had been processed at the final stage. The grant renewals process has also been very successful to date. By late September 21,604 applications have been completed out of a total of 23,404 renewal applications.
