John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for selecting this issue which I have been attempting to raise for the past couple of weeks. I have also been looking for clarification from SUSI. It would be opportune for these issues to be clarified now and guarantees to be given that parents and students will not face the frustration and trauma they experienced last year. It was understandable there would be some teething problems, but, as time passed, what happened was much worse than that.

The reason I would like clarity and certainty is that in the next few weeks students will sit the leaving certificate examination. Once the examinations are over, the focus will switch to results, college places and, in particular, grant applications and whether they will be successful. We cannot have a repeat of the situation last year where the same documents were requested a number of times, even though on many occasions they were sent by registered post and signed for by SUSI. The dysfunctional nature of the process was illustrated to me by the following case. Two children in one family applied for a grant. The same documents, the same income limits, etc. applied, but one member of the family was given a grant, while the other was refused.

I understand new procedures are being put in place, including bringing forward the date when applications can be made and links with the Department of Social Protection, the Department of Education and Skills and Revenue to cut down on the amount of documentation required. I also note there is to be a revised document management process and that a tracking system, for which I called last year, is to be put in place under which a student can check his or her application online, as one would with a passport. I would very much welcome it if these procedures were put in place. The Minister of State, Deputy Fergus O'Dowd, can clarify this and provide details of a clear plan for SUSI to inform all stakeholders, including parents, students, public representatives and the media.

Last year SUSI outsourced some of functions and this led to further confusion and loss of documentation. Scanned documents were not acceptable last year. I welcome attempts to correct the situation, but students and parents need to be sure SUSI will work.

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