SUSI grant too complex say councillors
Applying for the SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) grant is so complex that it would “almost ask you what you had for dinner yesterday”, Cork County Council has heard.
In a motion calling for an urgent review of the grant’s application process, Councillor Audrey Buckley, (FF), said the current process is “ineffective” and “not fit for purpose”.
“Many of you here would have probably had children going to college. If you haven't, you will have fun filling out this SUSI application when the time comes,” said Cllr Buckley.
As part of her motion, Ms Buckley suggested the grant’s application process could be integrated with the Revenue’s online services.
Cllr Finbarr Harrington (Ind) said he too had experienced huge difficulties with the grant as a parent and he could verify everything Cllr Buckley had said.
“It's the most cumbersome and drawn out application you could possibly have,” said Cllr Harrington.
“And then the difficulty about it is, when you get to the other end and you pass it, you must turn around and do it next year and the year after again.
“It is absolutely just over the top,” added the councillor.
Another issue raised regarding the SUSI application is that qualification for the grant is based on a household’s gross income rather than net income. This means the terms of qualification only consider a household’s earnings before taxes and other deductions.
Cllr Sinead Sheppard (FG) described this as “just crazy” and said the process is so difficult that “it’s like they don't want people to continue filling it out”.
“That income isn't there in the house to spend,” said Cllr Sheppard.
“The funding is there for these types of grants we want people to be going to third level education,” she added.
The SUSI grant scheme is the main financial support scheme for students studying full-time courses in Ireland and abroad. It is divided into maintenance grants and fee grants. Online applications for the 2025-2026 academic year are currently open at susi.ie.