THE BODY WHICH awards grants to students rejected a claim from a student, despite the application being well below the income threshold.
SUSI sent the unnamed student a letter this week saying that their application had been denied because the family income was over the €54,240 threshold. That is despite saying that the income is €46,661, some €7,629 below the threshold.
The letter, which is signed by a manager at the awarding body, which has already endured a torrid time with awarding grants since being established last year.
Sinn Féin town councillor in Carrickmacross Matt Carthy, who was given a copy of the letter by the student, made representations to SUSI.
I cannot believe that I had to write to SUSI to explain to them that €46,661 is in fact lower than €54,240.
Carthy was quick to say that while the letter may appear to be a funny occurrence, it is no laughing matter.
“On the face of it, the letter this student received is a funny mistake. However, that hides the fact that the students in this family; and the many others that are put through hoops due to administrative errors, are in great financial difficulty while they await payment of their grant.
“Quite simply it is not good enough for any government agency to make mistakes of this nature,
“While occurrences like this are rarer than they had been twelve months ago the truth is that they shouldn’t be happening at all.”
SUSI had not responded to a request for comment.
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