Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise with the Minister the issue of the special rate of SUSI. There have been adjustments in the social welfare payments and cost-of-living measures. We have not seen a corresponding increase in the threshold for the special rate, however. Can the Minister assure anxious parents and students that no one will lose out on the special rate of SUSI as a result of any social welfare payment increases or the cost-of-living supports? That would go a long way towards reassuring people.

People are really struggling. The problem, as with every year, is that SUSI does not always reflect the financial reality of what is going on in households in terms of the money that is available or the students and families who miss out because they just miss the threshold. If the Minister could reassure those people on the special rate, it would go some way to helping families.

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