Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I accept that. Ms Stewart confirmed that she has the staff she requested.

It is quite clear the scale of the task was underestimated and enough staff were not trained from the outset. Many of the problems were identified by SUSI officials today as being historic problems. For example, some 15,000 applicants to SUSI appear not to be proceeding with their applications. They were probably never even eligible for a grant in the first place. Apparently, a similar number of ineligible applications were made in previous years. There is a historic problem of more people applying for grants than are eligible for them. This contributes to a significant backlog in the system. These applications remain on the system as grants awaiting processing, which is an issue. SUSI needs a system - this was suggested by Oireachtas Members at the meeting - that will allow it deal with these 15,000 applications so they can be removed from the application list and we have a better picture of the number of outstanding applications.

There may be particular reasons for there being so many applicants this year. Some 56,000 students completed their leaving certificate this year, so at most there are 80,000 first year applicants for grants. We could also take into account the postgraduate students who might have to apply through SUSI, but the number remains around approximately 80,000. If only half of these are eligible for grants, which would be more than in previous years, we are talking about 40,000 valid applications. SUSI has suggested it expects to award approximately 40,000 grants. Therefore, approximately from 20,000 to 50,000 students are not eligible for grants.

One of the issues for SUSI is that students can go online and register without supplying any documentation. This was not the situation in the past in the case of local authorities and VECs. While it is not something new, some students try and buy time by applying for a grant, but they do not have the money put together for the registration fee. This situation is exacerbated in the current economic climate. People might not qualify for the grant, but are nearly in the range, and they might put in an application but be unable to pursue it because they are just above the threshold. This could be another factor in the number of applications.

A number of issues were raised apart from this. The problems with the telephone service were raised with SUSI officials. This issue has also been raised with us as public representatives. SUSI hopes to improve the situation next year. Deputies and Senators at the meeting made a number of good suggestions and I hope not only SUSI, but the Minister too, will take these on board. A helpline for student union representatives was suggested. A helpline and an e-mail facility exist to allow Deputies and Senators make contact with SUSI and there are obviously e-mail and helpline facilities for applicants. A line of communication should be established between SUSI and student union representatives in the various colleges also.

A suggestion was made with regard to using the experience and knowledge of people on the ground in places like Donegal who could go into the colleges and help students with difficulties with their applications. They could help with communication between SUSI and the students so that students understand fully what they need to do to complete their application.

I already mentioned the suggestion to ensure the 15,000 applications that are not proceeding are removed from the system and processed. SUSI raised the issue of the need for sharing of information in this regard. Information should be shared between the Revenue Commissioners and SUSI or the Department of Social Protection or the colleges in order to help speed up the processing of applications.

Many people raised the issue of the problem students face with regard to access to college facilities. Something must be done in this regard. Colleges must treat all students equally. I agree people should not be permitted to abuse the system and delay the paying of fees they must inevitably pay and still use the system if they have not paid up. However, there must be some system applied that will allow genuine grant applicants use the facilities. SUSI needs to communicate with colleges on that. I understand the HEA has written to the colleges, but the Minister must do something to make the colleges play ball on this.

Outsourcing some of the processing of applications should be considered. Has it worked where tried? There is significant expertise among those who have dealt with the grant system over the years and that knowledge should be tapped. These people are aware of the problems of getting some applicants to complete their documentation properly. We know from our experience as Deputies with regard to applications for social welfare that some people are not good at filling out forms, often with reason. Members might suggest that third level students should be better at this, but that might be a prejudice towards people who are disadvantaged in some way.

Many good ideas came forward at our meeting and the Minister should read the transcript and take these on board. The reason we had the meeting was because constituents contacted their Deputies. We are Teachtaí Dála who are elected to represent the concerns of our constituents, although people sometimes downplay this. We cannot legislate and deal with issues from an ivory tower. What we do here is very much linked up with our work in our constituencies. We talk to our constituents about how things work out in practice. If someone highlights a problem he or she is experiencing with SUSI, it is very important we go back to that person and ask whether he or she wants us to make inquiries on his or her behalf. That is not clientelism, rather it is holding SUSI to account on behalf of a constituent. That is what we did at our committee today and is what we are doing now here.

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