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

I thank Deputy Ó Snodaigh. SUSI is bringing forward its timetable of operations. It is intended that SUSI will open for business sooner. In fact, I understand, subject to confirmation, a website is going live tomorrow and that SUSI would hope that 1 August, rather than 31 August, will be the closing date for applications so that students will have applied and submitted their application before the end of July. That, plus the streamlining of the sharing of information between Government agencies will, we hope, have the desired effect.

This has never been done previously in this country. We have learnt many lessons from last year. We have been up-front in accepting that it did not work to our, let alone the students', satisfaction. I believe we have a formula that will significantly improve the experience of students. I will inform all of the student union bodies and the relevant authorities so that we will maximise public awareness of the system.

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