Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 January 2024
1821. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will give due consideration to increasing the income threshold for SUSI grants by 15%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56655/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraImprovements to the student grant scheme has been a key priority since becoming Minister, and I have already made a number of significant improvements to the Student Grant Scheme over past Budgets benefiting thousands of students.
I have already started the process of increasing certain thresholds. From September 2024:-
• The Band 4 maintenance grant threshold will increase from the current threshold of €46,790 to €50,840 so more students will be eligible for a maintenance grant.
• The 100% Student Contribution threshold is increasing by 10% from €50,840 to €55,924.
Reducing the cost of education will continue to be a priority for me in 2024. As per the last number of years I will be publishing an options paper on reducing the cost of education which will examine the issue of increasing thresholds.
