Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Mr. Prizeman stated that 30,000 grants would be awarded by 21 December. Of the 66,000 applications, what is the expected total number of awards? We need to know the total in order to know the percentage of the total that will be made by 21 December.

Almost half of all applications processed have been refused. In response to a Topical Issue in the Dáil, the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government stated that she expected 35,000 of the 66,000 applicants to be successful. If that is the case, it means that 30,000 will be unsuccessful. There is a big issue in this regard. If many of those who have applied are simply waiting to be told they will not get a grant, that means they will have to come up with the money to pay their student registration fees themselves. Many of them have persevered while awaiting the grant and they will be waiting a long time to get a negative answer, quite possibly leaving their futures in college in jeopardy.

On a final point, the witnesses might clarify whether the Ombudsman's remit covers SUSI.