SUSI grant and Covid payments
Deputy Healy-Rae warned that Covid payments could distort students’ SUSI grant eligibility for 2021-22. The Taoiseach said he would discuss it with the Minister, while noting SUSI is governed by legislation and fixed parameters.
Many students have been in contact with me ahead of the 2021-22 academic year, which I know sounds like a lifetime away. As the Taoiseach will be aware, however, for those receiving it, the Student Universal Support Ireland, SUSI, grant will be based on 2020 income. The Covid-19 payment, which a lot of students received and continue to receive, will play havoc with the grants next year. Now is the time to address this issue.
The new SUSI scheme will issue from the Department in February 2021 before SUSI opens for new applications and renewals in April 2021. Clearly, it is my view that the Covid-19 payment should not be assessed against these students. Many reforms are required in SUSI but regarding the pandemic unemployment payment, PUP, as a reckonable income is unfair, however.
Perhaps the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy Harris, will also address this issue. It should not be taken into account because of the pandemic and the crisis we are in. It would only be right and fair to make sure it would not be taken into account.
Comment on this
I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I will discuss this further with the Minister, Deputy Harris, and the Government will give broader consideration to it but I am conscious that the SUSI scheme is grounded in legislation and has parameters within which it must operate. I will revert to the Deputy.