Student grants - System has not worked

The difficulties surrounding new arrangements for sanctioning and delivering a third of student grants suggests once again that our public service finds change more difficult than they should.

This, of course, assumes that the fault lies with officialdom and that all of those who applied for grants completed the paperwork properly. This is more than unlikely, but it points to two issues. Firstly, why, if so many mistakes are being made, are the forms so difficult to complete? Secondly, why are those who cannot fill out a form pursuing a third-level education?

Just as a new scheme to administer how medical cards were distributed led to a period of chaos and inordinate delays, the SUSI scheme has shown itself unequal to the task set out for it. It should not be extended until performance improves dramatically. Its failure is another blow for those who suggest public sector reform is continuing apace and smoothly.