Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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854. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the SUSI grant scheme review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42890/21]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that the Programme for Government contains commitments to, among other things, review SUSI eligibility criteria, adjacency rates and postgraduate grant supports. On foot of these commitments I gave approval to commence a review of the Student Grant Scheme.

My Department is overseeing the implementation of the review. A Steering Committee has been established to provide direction for the external consultants undertaking the review. Its membership includes: the Union of Students of Ireland; Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), SOLAS, the HEA; Irish University Association (IUA); Technological Higher Education Association (THEA); Technological University Dublin (TUD), the Department of Social Protection and officials from my Department.

A public consultation process closed in April with over 280 submissions received. The views of students were sought via an online survey process in May and over 9,000 survey responses were received. The consultants appointed to conduct the review, are carrying out their analysis of the data captured in the surveys. It is anticipated that the review will be completed later this year and will inform future priorities regarding the development of student grant policy, including in the context of forthcoming Estimates process for 2022.

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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855. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the financial impact and stress that the later payment dates of SUSI for 2021 will have on students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42913/21]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The SUSI payment schedule is updated each year in line with college start dates, as to receive payment, a student must be registered with their college and the college must confirm their registration with SUSI. 

SUSI consulted with colleges and found that for academic year 2021-22, many colleges will open from mid to end September. Following careful consideration, the first scheduled maintenance grant payment for higher education students is 8^thOctober to allow students to register with their college and for colleges to then confirm their registration with SUSI.

To ensure students receive their first payment as soon as possible, SUSI will be making weekly payments from 8^thOctober.

The maintenance grant is paid in nine instalments and in line with previous years, there are four scheduled payments before the end of December.  In academic year 2020/21 the first payment was made on 9^thOctober 2020.

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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856. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the SUSI review. [42914/21]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that the Programme for Government contains commitments to, among other things, review SUSI eligibility criteria, adjacency rates and postgraduate grant supports. On foot of these commitments I gave approval to commence a review of the Student Grant Scheme.

My Department is overseeing the implementation of the review. A Steering Committee has been established to provide direction for the external consultants undertaking the review. Its membership includes: the Union of Students of Ireland; Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), SOLAS, the HEA; Irish University Association (IUA); Technological Higher Education Association (THEA); Technological University Dublin (TUD), the Department of Social Protection and officials from my Department.

A public consultation process closed in April with over 280 submissions received. The views of students were sought via an online survey process in May and over 9,000 survey responses were received. The consultants appointed to conduct the review, are carrying out their analysis of the data captured in the surveys. It is anticipated that the review will be completed later this year and will inform future priorities regarding the development of student grant policy, including in the context of forthcoming Estimates process for 2022.