Ms Jacinta Stewart:

This year the scheme opened in June and we would like it to open earlier because if it were opened in March it would give everybody a chance to have the documentation in place. There is a real question mark over whether the closing date should be hard. As we stated, approximately 10,000 applications were received after the closing date. Deputy Griffin asked whether we can reduce the amount of documentation required and we can do so in a number of ways. One way would be for students to give us permission when they are applying through the CAO to obtain the information once they are accepted onto a course. At present, people are going to social welfare offices to obtain their social welfare documentation and then sending it to us. It would make far more sense to have a direct link between us and the Department of Social Protection. It would also make a huge difference if we could develop links with Revenue's online service. It would take much of the paper out of the system and make it clearer.