Séamus Kirk (Louth, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wish to add my voice to what has been said by the other speakers in this debate. Many students with applications for grants pending with the new body, SUSI, are experiencing serious difficulties. SUSI has taken over the processing of student grants from 66 different authorities.

When the new system was introduced the Minister said it would be quick and easy. It is clear it has turned out to be neither quick nor easy. Only 18,000 applications have been processed to date. This leaves in the region of 50,000 still awaiting processing.

We are all realistic enough to know that new public bodies will have teething problems, in particular, a move from administration by the local VEC structures to a more centralised system will result in problems. Hence the importance at the planning stage to have ensured there would be sufficient staff, indeed additional to sufficient staff, to deal with problem cases expeditiously and to avoid a backlog of applications.

Many students are at college today and they are unsure as to when the grant money will arrive. They or their parents have been forced to borrow in order to tide them over until they are given an indicative position on their grant application. The danger is that the whole educational process will be delayed. I refer in particular to the settling-in period which new students in third level colleges must undergo. It can become disconcerting and there is a danger that such students may drop out of their courses.

The Minister made very extravagant promises about the student grants scheme before the last election. These promises were far too extravagant for the circumstances of the time. I am sure he has had plenty of time to reflect on his promises. I do not know whether he regrets what happened at that time. Many students believed that their man was now in Marlborough House and that he would look after their interests. This has not transpired.

There are significant difficulties with the new system which require action now. Given the quite catastrophic position that obtains with the processing of applications, there must be a case to be made for the establishment on a transitional basis of an advisory office structure in each third level college around the country. Students encountering problems with compiling and providing the details required for a grant application could be helped in these offices by means of a face-to-face meeting from an official of the new agency. Students or their parents could discuss the application, identify any deficits in information and be given a reasonable timescale to provide the information. This transitional arrangement might be of assistance in overcoming the serious backlog. The hope that all applications will be processed and the system will be fully functioning by Christmas is unsatisfactory for students, for parents and for the system. We need emergency measures now.

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