20,000 grant applications still to be decided

Almost one third of first-year college students seeking grants have still not had their application decided.

Student Universal Support Ireland (Susi), which is handling all first-time applications, insists 20,100 of the 67,500 applicants have not yet sent in all the necessary paperwork.

It has paid fees and the first grant instalment for 25,692 students up to last Wednesday. There are an estimated 35,000 eligible students.

However, even with about 4,250 due a payment once their bank details and college registration are confirmed, it still leaves at least 5,000 people likely to be due a grant awaiting payment.

Susi is part of the City of Dublin Vocational Education Committee (CDVEC) and is due to take over all student grants over the next few years.

In the summer, Education Minister Ruairi Quinn said it would make the process quicker and easier for students.

However, there have been problems with the system since the autumn, particularly with applicants or their families being asked to submit documents already sent in support of their grant claims. The work of requesting and compiling the documents has been outsourced to Cork-based firm Abtran, with CDVEC assessing applications for eligibility once Abtran says all the necessary paperwork has been submitted.

Abtran and CDVEC have both been approved for additional staffing since the backlog became clear in November.

A spokesperson for Susi said it is contacting 10,704 people it claims have not returned all their documents, and the 9,381 who have not sent in any documents.

Of the 46,681 students whose applications have been processed, 29,950 have been awarded a grant or fees only, while 16,731 have been refused a grant or have cancelled their applications.

She said if those who have not yet submitted any documents are not counted, 80% of applicants have had their claim decided, documents are still awaited from 18.5%, and 1.5% or 1,045 are being processed.

Tipperary Independent TD Mattie McGrath asked Mr Quinn this week if Susi had explained why so many applicants were being asked for information that had already been provided. The minister said he should appreciate that Susi received more than 67,000 applications.

“Some errors may inevitably arise when handling a high volume of applications within a relatively short timeframe.

“An external review of SUSI’s business processes will be put in place in the coming weeks to inform improvements in the system for the 2013/14 academic year.”

All 29,950 approved students have their €2,250 student fees paid, while 19,743 will be paid grants ranging from €305 to €5,915, depending on family income and distance to college.