Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. If we were in normal times, I would organise a briefing in the audiovisual room. However, I hope to organise an online briefing for Oireachtas Members on the SUSI grant system with SUSI officials. I know we are all getting a lot of queries into our offices, so I will arrange for that to happen very shortly.

I want to make sure there is flexibility this year. SUSI officials usually assess people based on last year's income, and they have made sure this time - I met them last week specifically on this - that they are helping students who have seen a sudden change in their income that is expected to last for some time. I know 2,500 extra people have applied to SUSI so far this year. On the change of circumstances form, I understand some 40% are citing Covid as the main reason, so SUSI is showing excellent extra flexibility in terms of sudden changes that may have happened. I accept there has always been a change of mind-----

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