Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 July 2021
521. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of SUSI recipients that have been moved from a non-adjacent maintenance rate in 2020-2021 academic year to an adjacent rate in 2021-2022 as a result of the SUSI altered systems and processes for measurement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37531/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra532. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to cases of students who have not moved address or college who have been informed in 2021 that they do not qualify for the SUSI non-adjacent rate due to a new method of calculating the distance to their home; his views on whether this will act as a barrier in returning to third-level education this academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37792/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 521 and 532 together.
The student grant scheme, administered by SUSI, provides maintenance grants to students who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means.
Student maintenance grants are payable at either the adjacent or non-adjacent rate. The adjacent rate of maintenance grant is payable in the case of students whose normal residence is 45km or less from the approved institution which he or she is attending. The non-adjacent rate of maintenance grant is payable in all other cases.
The measurement of the distances relating to the award of adjacent or non-adjacent rates of student grant is a matter for SUSI, the grant awarding authority. The distance measurement for student grant rates is governed by Article 27(3) (a) and (b) of the Student Grant Scheme 2021. This provides that the relevant distance will be measured in line with agreed guidelines.
The guidelines require that the shortest most direct route between the applicant's normal residence and the institution being attended should apply. In determining the shortest most direct route, the awarding authority shall establish:
- the method for measuring a route; and
- the factors to be taken into account in establishing and measuring a route.
The distance is always measured from the student's normal residence to the campus the student is attending and never the reverse. The distance is always measured avoiding tolls. The 'depart at' time is set to 1am to ensure consistency by measuring each SUSI Applicant's adjacency at the same time, using Google Maps
SUSI undertakes annual reviews of its processes to identify improvements in accuracy and consistency and have progressively introduced a number of measures that are intended to make the Student Grant Scheme more efficient for students. One of these measures was the introduction of Eircode which has helped to reduce processing times for applicants.
Some reviews can have positive outcomes for students and some reviews can be triggered by a change of address. At all times SUSI strives to ensure that each applicant receives the best possible outcome based on their particular set of circumstances. The application process for 2021-22 is still open therefore, it is not possible at this juncture to provide the data requested by the Deputy. However, I can confirm that as of July 11, SUSI had received just over 80,500 applications and assessed just over 56,500 with just over 49,500 qualifying for grant support.
