Press Statement
Monday 20th January 2014
USI welcomes the resolution of this issue, which means that students on these programmes will now continue to receive their grant payments. Since we became aware of this situation, we have been working alongside the Department of Education and Skills and SUSI with a view to reaching a favourable conclusion for these students.
Great progress has been achieved since last year’s difficulties in making SUSI more robust and efficient in processing grant applications.
It is important that all stakeholders work together to ensure issues such as these are dealt with speedily and satisfactorily should they arise. Read SUSI’s release below.
SUSI CONFIRMS FULL-TIME DENTAL NURSING AND HYGIENE COURSES ARE APPROVED FOR STUDENT GRANTS
The student grants awarding body, SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) has announced that full-time dental nursing and dental hygiene courses in Trinity College Dublin and the dental hygiene course in UCC are approved for student grants.
Following a review of awarded grants, questions arose about the eligibility status of these courses under the current Student Grant Scheme. SUSI suspended grant payments to students under the Scheme, pending clarification from the Department of Education and Skills.
The Department has clarified that the courses have approved status on the basis that they were approved under previous schemes. As a result, payments will be restored to eligible students and any arrears paid as soon as possible. The decision follows close consultation with the Union of Students in Ireland, aimed at bringing the issue to a satisfactory conclusion for the students studying these courses.
The SUSI helpline number is 0761 087874.
Email: support@susi.ie Media queries to caroline.erskine@susi.ie Tel: 086-3803995