Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy asked a number of questions and I will try to reply to them seriatim. I have been in contact with SUSI. I have not had physical meetings but the Department's officials have had such meetings. I have spoken to the chief executive of the City of Dublin Vocational Education Committee, CDVEC. Ten minutes ago I checked with the principal officer in the Department by telephone to confirm that all the facts I have put on the record of the House are accurate and in accordance with the facts as he knows them.

The Deputy's calculations are right. In processing over 2,000 per week we would not meet the target I have been assured will be met before Christmas. The reason for the officials' certainty that they will meet it is that the number of staff has been increased quite considerably so capacity will accelerate over the next few weeks. I intend to monitor the situation closely. If there is any change in any of the targets that have been formally communicated to the House, I will communicate it to the Deputies.

The Deputy asked about payment. As he will understand, it is a two-way exchange. Where all the details are available and we are still in working time without the disruption of the Christmas break and the holidays - Christmas Day this year is immediately after a weekend so there will be a prolonged closedown or limited service, even possibly affecting some of the IT activities - they might be processed but students might not get their lodgement until late in December or early in the new year.

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