Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a comprehensive update on the processing of first-time student grant applications by Student Universal Support Ireland including such applications that are still in backlog or under query; the payments issued thus far and the current situation in terms of clearing the backlog that still exist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55619/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I understand from Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that, as at the close of business on the 9th December, it has received 66,891 student grant applications for this year. Processing of 33,936 applications are now complete - 20,859 have been awarded, or awarded pending submission of final course details and 13,077 applications have been refused or cancelled.

SUSI has 8,254 applications on hand which are currently being processed. Only 255 new applications have yet to commence processing. 5,989 applications that have been assessed are currently under query. SUSI is awaiting submission of documentation by the student on the remaining applications.

As at 7th December 8,769 students awarded a maintenance grant have been paid. Maintenance grant payment runs are continuing on a weekly basis to ensure students get paid as soon as possible after they submit their bank accounts details and their institutions confirm their attendance. In addition, 3,782 have been awarded a "fees only" grant (either the student contribution or fees) – these payments are made directly to the relevant institution.

SUSI is staffed to the level that has been requested and the resources have been put in place to enable them to process applications to completion, subject to all the necessary documentation having been submitted in order to make a decision in each case. The number of applications being processed has been increasing in recent weeks and every effort is being made to ensure that students get decisions on their grant applications as soon as possible.

SUSI has indicated that it is on target to progress all applications received to date with the necessary supporting documentation between now and the end of the year.