Students should be encouraged to work part-time, not be penalised for it

"I think it's very unfair for families seeking the SUSI Grant for their children, that all income coming into the house is assessed. Where there are students working part-time in a shop during the summer; their income is taken into consideration as well," said Cllr Gerry Dolan who called on Ballinamore Municipal District to write to the Department of Education to revise and update the requirements needed to apply for the SUSI Grant for young adults going to college. 
He said applicants are being penalised for having part time and summer jobs and some allowances or changes need to be made to the application process.

He continued: "I think it's great to see students having the initiative to have a part-time job and getting them into a routine rather than having them sitting in the house during the holidays."

The SUSI maintenance grant is the main support for students attending higher education and will increase by €342 in this academic year between January and May after Budget 2024.

It was recently reported that Leitrim has 607 families benefiting from the grant.

Cllr Enda McGloin suggested contacting the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris. 

Cllr Paddy O' Rourke noted that in 2022, the Government approved an increase to the "holiday earnings income disregard" from €4,500 to €6,552, meaning students can now earn an additional €2,000 during their academic break and other non-term time periods.  

He said that if there is more than one student attending third-level education, there is "a bit of a let-off there."

 
He added that in his view, "no obstacle should be put in the way of a youngster taking a job" and "every opportunity should be made to accommodate them."