Mr. Seamus McCarthy:

A difficulty also arose because there was a change of policy in this area. Some people who were in receipt of the back to education allowance and already in receipt of grants and who were, for instance, entering their second or third year of a course would have been entitled to retain the allowance and receive grant assistance. This changed with effect, I believe, from the 2012-13 year of account.

One of the issues when the SUSI system was put in place was the potential for it to get that information from the Department of Social Protection in advance of making the awards, but it did not have that system in place. It is in place now. It is unlikely that particular aspect of it would have been repeated.

I should say I have a special report coming out - it is due to be finished this week - in relation to the development of SUSI and the bedding down of it. That will be coming before the committee in due course.