Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 June 2013
118. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will seek increased funding for his Department in budget 2014 in respect of the student assistance fund for the coming academic year in view of the increased financial difficulties being reported by third level students and their families as the student contribution fee has increased. [31148/13]
View answerStudents who qualify under my Department's student grant scheme have the student contribution paid on their behalf by the Exchequer. The Government is aware of the financial pressures on families and, conscious of this, tax relief provisions have been put in place which provide for tax reliefs so that second and subsequent siblings do not have to bear the full cost. In addition, my Department, through the Higher Education Authority (HEA), requested institutions to put arrangements in place whereby students may opt to pay the contribution in two instalments.
The management of the Third Level Access Measure Fund rests with the Higher Education Authority and the allocation of funding for the Student Assistance Fund and the Fund for Students with Disabilities in a particular year is a matter for the authority. The overall value of the Measure for the 2013/14 academic year is €16.2m. The allocation to the Student Assistance Fund for the 2013/14 academic year will not be known until the HEA takes a decision in this matter in the run up to the commencement of the academic year. The HEA's policy is to advise institutions of their annual allocations under the Fund as early as possible prior to the academic year so as to facilitate forward planning.
The Deputy will appreciate that as the preparation of the Estimates for any Budget, including Budget 2014, is carried out on a strictly confidential basis, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on specific issues or proposals, including those relating to the Student Assistance Fund, in advance of the Budget announcement.
