Nicky McFadden (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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263. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the measures he will take to improve the performance of Student Universal Support Ireland in dealing with grant applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3820/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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SUSI has been operating considerably more efficiently and has been meeting its targets in respect of processing grants on schedule in 2013/14. There will be an ongoing focus on work to continually improve the system, particularly relating to the processes and systems in operation. In this regard, SUSI is currently developing a programme of further changes and improvements to provide enhanced services to grant applicants for the coming academic year.

The measures under consideration are: earlier opening of the grants online system to facilitate earlier acceptance of grant applications, enhanced application form functionality, improvements to workflows and streamed processing for the different types of applications received by SUSI, improved website information, enhanced direct communications and information exchange between applicants and SUSI using new technology and the further extension of data-sharing arrangements between SUSI and Government Departments and agencies to reduce the amount of documentation sought from applicants.