Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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1313. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the SUSI review for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41384/21]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As part of a comprehensive customer service and communications strategy provided by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), to ensure that all necessary avenues are open to applicants to receive the information they need, a dedicated email and phone line service is provided by SUSI for Oireachtas members. This was established to meet an identified need for applicants who choose to engage the assistance of their public representatives in making enquiries about their grant applications. This service complements the established channels provided by SUSI which include online application tracking, a dedicated website, a telephone helpdesk, email and social media, including Facebook and Twitter. Enquiries may be emailed direct to SUSI at oireachtas@susi.ie. Staff in SUSI are responding to email queries within a matter of days.

With regard to the specific application, I have been advised by my officials that the student outlined by the Deputy was awarded Special Rate (non-adjacent) maintenance grant & Postgraduate Tuition Fees to a maximum of €6,270. The award letter issued to the applicant on 21/07/2021.

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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1314. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the SUSI review for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41385/21]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As part of a comprehensive customer service and communications strategy provided by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), to ensure that all necessary avenues are open to applicants to receive the information they need, a dedicated email and phone line service is provided by SUSI for Oireachtas members. This was established to meet an identified need for applicants who choose to engage the assistance of their public representatives in making enquiries about their grant applications. This service complements the established channels provided by SUSI which include online application tracking, a dedicated website, a telephone helpdesk, email and social media, including Facebook and Twitter. Enquiries may be emailed direct to SUSI at oireachtas@susi.ie. Staff in SUSI are responding to email queries within a matter of days.

With regard to the specific application, I have been advised by my officials that the student outlined by the Deputy submitted a renewal application to SUSI for the 2021/22 academic year and a change of circumstance was declared. A full assessment of the student's application was completed. On 14th June 2021 he was issued with a letter awarding him the 100% adjacent rate of grant as the shortest most direct route was confirmed to be under 45km. Following a request from the applicant for an internal review the distance from the student's residence from his college was confirmed as under 45km. The applicant has also informed SUSI that he may have a further change of circumstance. SUSI has advised that he can request an further internal review of his application and he should contact SUSI as soon as the change occurs.

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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1315. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of SUSI applications waiting for review for the 2020-2021 academic year which have not yet received a decision by SUSI; the deadline communication of these decisions; if there has been a significant delay in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41386/21]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The student grant scheme, administered by SUSI, provides grants to students who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means.

SUSI received over 100,000 applications for academic year 2020/21 representing an increase in applications when compared to 2019/20. There have been no delays in the processing of applications received for 2020/21 with SUSI processing the increased number of applications at a faster pace than the previous year.

SUSI opened for applications for 2020/21 in April 2020 with the online system closing in November 2020 after which late applications fulfilling the necessary criteria were accepted. Currently 29 applications for the 2020/21 academic year are yet to be finalised. Of these, 18 are with the applicant and SUSI is awaiting the return of requested documents. 11 applications are being reviewed by SUSI .