Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 October 2013
89. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to secure a more favourable loan scheme for postgraduate students which now, with the abolition of the maintenance grant for postgraduate students in budget 2012, can have interest rates of up to 10.8%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43654/13]
View answerFollowing discussions with my Department, with support and advice from the National Treasury Management Agency, a specific loan initiative was introduced by Bank of Ireland in 2012 to provide finance for fees and living costs for postgraduate students. While developed in conjunction with the Department of Education and Skills, it is a Bank of Ireland product and further information on the terms and conditions of the loan is available from the bank.A number of financial institutions offer loans to assist students with costs associated with their studies.
I have no plans at present to engage in further discussions with financial institutions.
