The Government intends to process all third-level grant applications by Chirstmas, Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore has said.

Mr Gilmore was replying in the Dáil today to Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald, who referred to the delay by the applications’ body, SUSI, in processing some applications.

He said recommendations to improve the system were being implemented. Some of those involved earlier and easier way of processing applications.

“I think it is far to say that students will not experience the kind of difficulties that they experienced last year,’’ he added. “But as we all know, it depends on the individual application, its quality sometimes and various information provided.’’

Ms McDonald said there were nearly 600 students with complications surrounding their grant applications. “It is only a glimpse of the chaos we know reigned in this system for the last academic year.’’