18 Jun 2013, 17:39
Officials from Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) will tomorrow update the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection on the improvements to the grant support system for the next academic term.
18 June 2013
Student Universal Support Ireland, administered by the City of Dublin VEC, was established to replace 66 local authorities and VECs and is responsible for processing student grant applications.
Chair of the Committee Joanna Tuffy TD says: “There were delays in processing applications in the last academic term. Our Committee was concerned at the strain this was placing on third level students and their families while they awaited for a decision on their application for a grant, as well as for the funding to come through for successful applications. In previous years, delays in the system were more dispersed among 66 local authorities and VECs. As a single agency responsible for the administration of grants, the SUSI system was the focus of widespread public concern.\"
“SUSI management came before our Committee last November and have kept us up to date on progress in clearing the grants backlog. The meeting tomorrow is a timely opportunity for the Committee to assess the efforts being made to better streamline applications, make the system more user-friendly and, ultimately to bolster public confidence in the SUSI system.”
The meeting will commence with consideration of the Employment Equality Act, 1998 (section 12) (Church of Ireland College of Education) Order 2013 with Sean Sherlock TD, Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills.
The meeting takes place tomorrow Wednesday 19 June at 1pm in Committee Room 3. Committee proceedings can be followed live here.
Ends
For further information please contact:
Paul Hand,
Communications Unit,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926
paul.hand@oireachtas.ie
Committee Membership
Deputies:
James Bannon, Fine Gael
Ray Butler, Fine Gael
Joan Collins, People Before Profit
Clare Daly, Independent
Brendan Griffin, Fine Gael
Simon Harris, Fine Gael
Charlie McConalogue, Fianna Fáil
Nicky McFadden, Fine Gael
Jonathan O'Brien, Sinn Féin
Mary Mitchell O’Connor, Fine Gael
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, Labour Party (Vice Chair)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh, Sinn Féin
Willie O’Dea, Fianna Fáil
Brendan Ryan, Labour Party
Joanna Tuffy, Labour Party (Chair)
Senators:
Jim D’Arcy
Fidelma Healy Eames
Marie Moloney
Averil Power
Diarmuid Wilson