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Student Universal Support Ireland, the new central online system for student grants is now live. SUSI will be accepting all new grant applications and giving out payments to students starting college in the coming academic year or those beginning new courses.

Up until last year, students applied to their local authority or VEC for their grants. Some 66 grant awarding authorities were involved, all using a variety of application, assessment and payment processes.

SUSI replaces all of these with a centralised, easy to use, on-line system of application.

Education Minister Ruairí Quinn urged students to apply to SUSI early:

Leaving Cert students will be finishing up their exams in the next ten days and those who are likely to qualify for a student grant can then set their minds to making an online application through www.studentfinance.ie.

Many students have had to wait for lengthy periods for their grants in the past and faced undue hardship as a result of these delays. Now, once they are approved, they will receive monthly electronic transfers into their bank accounts during the academic year.

There are significant savings to the Exchequer through the operation of SUSI. 170 people are currently employed across the 66 grant awarding authorities. SUSI has a staff of 65 which will save the taxpayer approximately €5 million per annum once the transition is complete.

Minister Quinn said:

This is an excellent example of public sector reform. It has significant benefits not only to students seeking or in receipt of grants but also to the public purse.