SUSI grant reform 'is beyond urgent'
Working families are being pushed into poverty trying to send their children to third level education. Reform of SUSI grant access is now beyond urgent, according to Sinn Féin spokesperson on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh
Addressing the Tánaiste Leo Varadkar in the Dáil, Deputy Conway-Walsh stated: “This Saturday will mark four years since the publication of the Report of the Expert Group on Higher Education known as the Cassell’s report.
“However, the commitments made therein have not yet been implemented and require immediate attention.
“Of particular immediate importance are the financial thresholds for students to avail of SUSI grants which deny many deserving families access to funding.
“Apart from the exclusionary criteria of the thresholds being too low, assessment on gross as opposed to nett income and independent adult students being assessed on parents means, there is the added stress of dramatically changed financial circumstances due to Covid-19.
“A self-employed widow, whom I know, is a prime example. She is raising three children on her own with one who is in college on half a SUSI grant.
"Her business is still closed and her Covid payment has been reduced to 203 euro per week.
“For her, and families in similar situations, I want to know if government will be doing assessments based on this year's financial circumstances so that they can get full access to SUSI?
“I welcome the formation of a specific department for Higher Education, Research and Science and sincerely hope it marks a step change in how the government treats third-level education and reverse a decade long trend of under-funding.
“Will the Minister commit to implementing the legislation needed to meet the targets set by the Cassell’s Report to ensure adequate funding and push back against the increasing inequality in access to third level education?
“We were not doing enough to ensure equality of access to third level education before Covid.
"The economic impact of the lockdown could make the situation worse if action isn’t taken with urgency to adequately fund SUSI and change criteria to ensure it is flexible enough to account for people changing circumstances.”