Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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Question 248: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when qualifying students will expect to receive their grants as on 28 September 2011, no grant has been paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27508/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I am aware that the timing of processing and paying of grants varies between the 66 awarding authorities depending on a number of variables including the volume of applications received, staffing resources and whether or not properly completed application forms have been submitted. Work prioritisation across different functions, and how available staff are deployed to execute those functions are matters for the management of each VEC and local authority concerned.

My Department is in constant contact with grant awarding authorities to monitor the situation in relation to the processing and payment of grants to ensure that applicants receive decisions on their grant applications as soon as possible. In this regard, I understand that one of the grant awarding authorities in the Deputy's constituency commenced making payments in September and the other three will be making payments this month.

The Deputy will be aware that the student grants system will be centralised from September 2012 and eliminate the need for 66 grant awarding bodies. I believe this will lead to improved efficiencies in the processing and payment of student grants and is evidence of innovative public service reform.