Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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162. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of grant applications that remain unprocessed; the number of students who have had to drop out of college because of delays in awarding the grants; and the steps he intends to take to overcome the problems with Student Universal Support Ireland. [2602/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I understand from Student Universal Support Ireland that grants processing is largely up to date and that completed applications are now being dealt with as they come in. The current position on processing of grants by Student Universal Support Ireland, as at close of business on 20 January 2013 is that 47,674 applications have been processed to completion.

Of the remaining applications, in the case of over 9,000 online applications students have never sent in any documentation and SUSI is engaging with those students to confirm closing out these applications. Documentation is outstanding in relation to the remaining 10,000 cases. This is similar to the position in previous years and SUSI is actively contacting these students to assist them with finalising their applications.

For students, affordability is just one of a number of factors that impact on continue participation in higher education. There are a range of wider factors that also impact on participation, including social and cultural issues, prior academic attainment and teacher and parental expectations.

An external review of SUSI's business processes will be undertaken to inform improvements in the system for the 2013/14 academic year.