Laois Offaly TD wants SUSI savings diverted to disadvantaged students

A Laois Offaly TD wants disadvantaged students to benefit from student grant savings anticipated due to a reduction in applicants. 

Deputy Carol Nolan, who is a member of the Oireachtas Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation, said there are 11,500 less Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) applications this academic year. 

In total, 87,245 applications were received for the 2022/23 academic year, 10 percent fewer than the projected 98,600 applications.

The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in a briefing note provided to Deputy Nolan said that possible reasons for the significant drop in application numbers include cost of living pressures; potential retention issues (suggested by lower renewal figures) and increases in apprenticeships over recent years potentially leading to a reduction in PLC grant applicants.

Deputy Nolan said she will be engaging with Minister Simon Harris and the Department to ensure that savings made by the lower than anticipated application numbers can be distributed specifically to students from disadvantaged backgrounds and to those who are struggling to maintain participation in third level.

“As I understand it, there was a saving of about €48million from the 10% drop in SUSI applications. I want that money to be directed to students who have the greatest level of need,” she said.

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“I will also be seeking specific information on the lower renewal and the retention issues that are being identified. How many students, who are already in the system, have dropped out? I have repeatedly stated that this would become an issue as accommodation and transport issues continue to hit families.”

“The Department have informed me, and the Committee, that it is working to better understand the drivers behind the drop, and this includes looking at the potential for students to defer education in order to take up employment. However, we do need to understand that this is not necessarily a positive and it may actually be a reflection of the belief among potential students that despite the improved grants situation, they simply have to work harder and longer to afford any kind of entry access to third level.”

“My concern, that I have consistently stated, is that third level is becoming the preserve of the wealthy and the well-off. We have to take active measures to prevent any trend in that direction becoming embedded within the system,” Deputy Nolan concluded.