
SUSI Student Grant Body Decide to Disable Website At Key Moment For Students
Ógra Aontú have criticised the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Simon Harris, today after the website which students use to obtain a SUSI grant went offline for a number of days.
Speaking today spokesperson for the group Melissa Byrne, said: "This has been a complete disaster. SUSI's website went offline earlier this week and remains offline today as it undergoes an upgrade. This was a planned upgrade - and yet SUSI picked this week to go offline - the week where college registration opens across the country. The week when students enroll in courses and are asked to pay fees"
Ms Byrne continued: "They really picked the worst possible week to go offline. They could literally have gone offline in any other week of the year with minimal disruption. This decision has caused absolute havoc for students up and down the country and it's time Minister Simon Harris came out and made a public statement on the issue"
"As with previous years the grant system is in chaos. I am aware of students who have been refused a grant while their siblings have been successful in their applications. Siblings of the same household, travel distance and parental income. I'm also aware of students who have been offered a grant despite not having applied for one! There is no rhyme nor reason to the SUSI system and its beginning to feel like they're picking names from a hat at this stage!" concluded Ms Byrne.
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