Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do not have any information from the Central Statistics Office as to whether that turned out to be correct. I welcome the opportunity to engage with SUSI and review its operations but, apart from a few suggestions its delegates may make, the situation is out of its hands.

Have the delegates any figures for the number of people who are marginally over the limit? Some people will not even apply, of course, so there may not be complete figures. What are the delegates' views on the question of discretion? I regret that the appeals body is not represented today as the question of applying discretion would be more pertinent to it.

What happens with people who are estranged or where there is a question of a person being independent or dependent? I have constituents who had to prove they were independent. Although it is a strict test, I found it was a fair process and I have no difficulties with it as people could otherwise take advantage of it.