Ms Ciara Fanning:

On behalf of the Irish Second-Level Students Union, ISSU, I thank the Chairman, Deputies and Senators for inviting us to discuss the SUSI grants system. As the representative voice of second level students, we welcome the consultation with students on student issues.

One of the biggest barriers facing second level students regarding the SUSI grant is the inability to be classed as a financially independent candidate if one is under 23 years on 1 January preceding the start of one's course. Many students are supporting themselves by working part time while at second level and throughout their third level education. These are the students who are most in need of independent candidate status. Their parents' income, no matter the amount, has no influence on their own financial situation. The criteria for estrangement are very strict, with most students not meeting them but still facing the task of financing themselves if they wish to continue to third level. The ISSU recommends that the criteria for students under the age of 23 years to be eligible for classification as financially independent candidates be made less severe to allow for a more empathic and understanding system for students who are trying to progress their education. With the rising cost of living and education, many second level students work part time throughout their education and during the summer holidays. The number of 16 and 17 year olds in employment increased by more than 20% in three years, from 25,000 in 2015 to 30,650 in 2017. ISSU members have reported having to leave part-time employment in order to be eligible for the SUSI grant, as their own income would put them just over the edge of the eligibility criteria, meaning that there is more to lose than gain by working part time. In an economy where it is necessary for a lot of young people to find part-time work and where many sectors rely on these workers, the system should not be punishing them for so doing. We recommend that the allowance for earnings of students with summer employment be extended to include weekend and part-time work throughout the academic year.

While the SUSI grant, in its current form, still serves its purpose as an accessibility tool to allow students to progress to third level, the amount payable to recipients has remained the same since its introduction in 2012. This is no longer reflective of the cost of living faced by students, particularly for housing in larger cities. Where once a maintenance grant of €3,000 may have covered the full cost of student accommodation for the academic term, now it does not even cover half the cost in major cities such as Dublin, Cork and Galway. For the SUSI grant to fulfil its intended purpose, it is essential that it be increased to reflect the increased cost of living for students in order to make third level education as accessible as possible. Allowances should be made for students attending institutions in larger towns and cities and the rents payable for purpose-built student accommodation on campuses and through private providers should be capped.

Third level education must be accessible to all students, regardless of income and financial background. The SUSI grants system must be as efficient as possible to allow students to progress with the development of their education. The reality is that the cost of living is much higher today than in 2012. We ask committee members to take this into account and take on board our recommendations to ensure SUSI, as intended, will not leave any student behind.