Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if applicants for higher education grants that worked during the Covid-19 emergency will not incur a reduction or cessation of SUSI grant entitlement in view of the fact that they worked as requested during the emergency; and if she will make a statement on the matter …” (more)
[Dáil written answers, 30 June]
“Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the SUSI requirement will be reduced for students who have applied for asylum, subsidiary protection or leave to remain here from three years in a school here to two years reflecting the duration of the leaving certificate …” (more)
[Dáil written answers, 16 June]
“The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) has expressed concern about the lack of a plan to reduce Irish student fees in the programme for government put forward by Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil, and the Green Party this week. In a statement issued today, USI said that while some elements of the programme were promising, there was a lack of detail on how a number of actions will be taken …” (more)
[Patrick Coyle, Trinity News, 18 June]
“Almost four months after the general election, Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party have drawn up a programme for government, which will now be put to their members for a vote …” (more)
[Aoife Kearins and Emer Moreau, University Times, 15 June]
“Despite a public appeal by more than 1,700 academics, as well as an intervention from Provost Patrick Prendergast, higher education is unlikely to get its own department under the next government …” (more)
[Donal MacNamee, University Times, 15 June]
“Ireland’s next government will put a ‘renewed focus’ on higher education funding, but college fees will remain the same, Fianna Fáil’s education spokesperson has said …” (more)
[Emer Moreau, University Times, 15 June]
“Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the additional income provided to students that were working part-time and are now in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment will be factored into their income eligibility for student grants under SUSI in 2021 …” (more)
[Dáil written answers, 9 June]
“Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the eligibility criteria for SUSI grants will be changed to take account of changed financial circumstances that parents of students are experiencing presently; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)
[Dáil written answers, 9 June]
“Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the situation that applies to students that are not classed as independent for the purposes of the SUSI grant whose parents are temporarily unemployed due to Covid-19-related circumstances but do not know if they will be taken on again such as, for example, in the bar or retail trade; and if persons in these circumstances will qualify for the change of circumstances clause in SUSI …” (more)
[Dáil written answers, 27 May]
“Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if grant thresholds are being extended; and if the registration fee has been considered for abolition (details supplied) …” (more)
[Dáil written answers, 27 May]
“The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) will lobby the government for reform of the SUSI grant system, after its national congress voted today in favour of a motion to push for changes to SUSI’s eligibility criteria …” (more)
[Ciaran Molloy, University Times, 26 May]
“Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if amendments will be made to the requirement to submit payslips for work done by a student applying for a grant to SUSI in view of the impossibility of contacting some previous employers, for example, pubs due to them being closed as a result of Covid-19 …” (more)
[Dáil written answers, 20 May]
“Although it means that politicians won’t get to send their annual tweet wishing students well in the leaving certificate and radio stations will lose a month of content from disgruntled parents, students and those with no affiliation to the exams whatsoever ringing in to complain about it, the decision taken by the government today to cancel the leaving certificate exams and replace them with calculated grades has been painted by the media as one of relief for students …” (more)
[Aoife Kearins, University Times, 8 May]
“Students who start college next year but get an improved course offer after appeal will remain eligible for ‘free fees’ and SUSI grants as if they were starting college for the first time, under new government arrangements for the leaving certificate …” (more)
[Sárán Fogarty, University Times, 8 May]
“Record numbers of students are expected to apply for grants in the coming academic year due to the volume of families affected by unemployment or reduced incomes. Student Universal Support Ireland (Susi) recorded a surge of 10,000 grant applications within a single day of opening its applications for the coming academic year …” (more)
[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 3 May]
“Student Universal Support Ireland is better known as SUSI, and is the agency which processes applications for students grants. Fianna Fáil TD for Cork North West Aindrias Moynihan says the financial criteria used in the SUSI application process should be reviewed this year in light of the huge financial impact which the COVID-19 pandemic has had on family incomes …” (more)
[Elaine Murphy, TheCork.ie, 27 April]
“Minister welcomes continuation of funding for students as well as increased access to laptops and desktops. Minister of State for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor has highlighted the range of supports available to students in higher education, particularly from groups traditionally under-represented in higher level education, during Covid-19 …” (more)
[Department of Education and Skills, 27 April]
“Sinn Féin TD for Tipperary Martin Browne has said that the Minister for Education needs to clarify the eligibility criteria for SUSI grant applications for those whose incomes have been affected as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. He said …” (more)
[Sinn Féin, 24 April]
“Sinn Féin spokesperson on Education Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire TD has said that the Minister for Education needs to clarify the eligibility criteria for SUSI grant applications for those whose incomes have been affected as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. He made his remarks as the SUSI grant application process opens tomorrow (23rd April). Teachta Ó Laoghaire said: …” (more)
[Sinn Féin, 22 April]
