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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation

SUSI grants and family income

Summary

Deputy Conway-Walsh said families affected by Covid should have their SUSI eligibility reassessed using current incomes. The Tánaiste agreed many circumstances had changed, said budgets were limited, and would bring the issue to the Education Minister.

Saturday will mark the fourth anniversary of the publication of the Cassells report. The commitments in that report have not yet been implemented and are now beyond urgent. Many families are being pushed into poverty because they are excluded from the Student Universal Support Ireland, SUSI, grants. With the Covid crisis, will the Government assess SUSI to allow for the changes in families' financial circumstances so that they are not based on last year's figures. This especially affects the self-employed. A widow bringing up three children has just had her business closed down. She is only on half a grant. Her Covid payment has now been reduced to €203 a week. Will that woman and people like her get full access to SUSI?

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Leo Varadkar The Tánaiste Fine Gael

The Deputy has raised a very relevant question. Many people's financial circumstances are dramatically different now from what they were last year. People who previously would not have qualified for medical cards now will. People who do not qualify for SUSI grants now probably should. Obviously budgets are limited, notwithstanding the extent of borrowing that is happening. However, it is a matter for the Minister for Education and Skills, and I will let her know that the Deputy raised it here today. We will see if there is anything we can do about it. It may be now be a matter for the Minister with responsibility for higher education. I will have to double-check that.

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