Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

When a person applies for a Student Universal Support Ireland, SUSI, grant, a few sections on the form ask if he or she has any siblings over the age of 16 in third level education. A person can then input details and submit his or her application. However, because both of the students who are applying or going into the next year do not have the registration confirmed yet by the colleges, they are not linked. This creates an internal review, which means there is a 30-day wait for a further decision. Both students need to create an internal review and get letters from the colleges. Even if only one student does it, it means that the second will not get the increase of what is available due to two siblings attending college.

This year will be a nightmare. Many internal reviews are going to happen come September as a result of a change in circumstances and the pandemic unemployment payment, PUP, being stopped. I call on the Tánaiste to make sure a team is tasked with linking students together, which was stated on the original SUSI grant applications, and sending a double consent form for both students to sign to give permission to share information in order that they can register for college and both go automatically. That will streamline the system and make everybody's life easier.

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