Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

That was a pretty serious promise. It affected Deputy Collins's county also.

I can confirm for Deputy Ó Cuív that the Cabinet has not considered anything like that on which he is speculating. With regard to the backlog that arose in respect of existing facilities for third level students and the payment of their grants, 69,000 applications were received this year, and payments have been made in respect of 88% of these. I believe 5,795 applications are still outstanding as SUSI has been waiting for more than six weeks for the required information.

SUSI is writing to them again this week. Actually, the process is very much ahead of what it was last year under the old system. Of the students who are currently in college and who applied for grants, nearly 6,000 have not sent any of the information that is required, and which is outstanding for six weeks, while 88% are approved. The Cabinet has not considered anything like what the Deputy has speculated.

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