Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

We are spoiled for choice in terms of bee days.

The Minister has responded to questions on the July provision and said that meetings are taking place. It is vitally important that the organisations are happy with what is proposed. I hope the Department will go towards meeting that. There must also be a move to expand the July provision. Children who have special needs have been out of the school setting for so long. I hope the Minister will take that on board when dealing with the issue.

Deputy Harkin referred to the north-west technological university and I will be really parochial now with regard to the Killybegs location. The Killybegs campus of LYIT appears to be getting left behind by Letterkenny. I want to make sure the Minister is aware of this and that it does not happen. The Killybegs campus is in a vital location for a north-west university and it needs to be protected. Unfortunately, I believe it needs to be protected from its own masters first. We need some outside help in that regard.

I want to address SUSI grants and the process that will happen this year for applications and so on. Applications are now open. In order to streamline the process, there will be many changes in income circumstances from last year that people will have to apply on. Rather than having to apply with all of one's income details for last year and then having this year's income considered in another process, it would make more sense to go direct and to assess people on their income this year. It would shortcircuit the process and reduce the level of administration and so forth. High numbers of people will impacted, given the change of circumstances this year, but the normal procedure does not allow this year to be taken into consideration until last year's income has been considered first. That should be looked at.

Will the Minister give consideration to basing the SUSI grant income assessment for PAYE workers on net income? PAYE workers do not have any way to manipulate their income. We know from experience that workers who are income-assessed can manipulate their income to facilitate their qualifying for the payment. I ask that that be considered for PAYE workers.

In the case of the top-up grant, I ask that an income level of €24,000 be used rather than one's social welfare entitlement. I know of people working in jobs who earn less than social welfare recipients but who cannot get a top-up because they are working. That should be addressed on an ongoing basis.

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