Quinn ‘must meet SUSI officials’ – McConalogue
Charlie McConalogue TD for Donegal North East (FF)
A Donegal TD has accused Education Minister Ruairí Quinn of “relying on unrealistic targets” for the payment of student grants. Fianna Fáil Education Spokesperson Charlie McConalogue also called on Minister Quinn to meet the officials working in SUSI, the organisation which processes the grants, face to face.
The TD for Donegal North East made the remarks after questioning the Minister in the Dáil today.
He said: “Minister Quinn told me that he spoke to SUSI officials on the phone today and that they plan to award 33,000 grants by Christmas. But grants are being processed at a rate of 2,000 a week, and there is just six weeks to Christmas. That means that, at current rates, there would only be an additional 12,000 grants awarded by Christmas.
“In addition to this, a further 21,000 grants still have not been fully processed by SUSI and an additional 23,000 require further documentation. Given these figures, there is no doubt in my mind that of thousands of students will be waiting well into the New Year for their grants. How many more students will be forced to drop out between now and then?
“The bottom line is that the Minister is relying on unrealistic targets, and at this rate the grants crisis is nowhere near being solved. He has refused to state that he has full confidence in SUSI’s figures, but he still has no problem relying on those figures instead of meeting management face-to-face and taking control of the situation.
Deputy McConalogue said this approach is “not the kind of leadership students were promised last week”.
He concluded: “Students need to have confidence that everything is being done to ensure they get their grants urgently. This requires a hands-on approach by Minister Quinn. I am again calling on the Minister to personally meet with the managers of SUSI instead of just hoping the problem will go away.”
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Wednesday 22 May 2013
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