Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

With regard to the 21,000 applications in hand for processing, a dent has not been made in it in the past week or so. The 21,000 applications and packages have not been checked to ensure all documentation is there. The expected return rate, where applications are incomplete, is up to 40%. Given the major challenge, and when many applications have not been opened or double checked, how will we reach the target of 33,000 awarded by the end of the year? Many of them will have to be returned. The total number of grant awards expected to be made through SUSI is 35,000 and 33,000 represents a high proportion of them. Some 21,000 remain to be checked and perhaps the Minister for Education and Skills can explain how they will be processed.

What measures is SUSI taking to ensure it gets the bank account details of students so that, once it decides to make an award, there is no further delay? That is a practical step that could be taken.

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