Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 November 2020
302. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if Irish students will be able to avail of SUSI grants post Brexit to study at universities in Northern Ireland and the UK; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36065/20]
View answerGrant assistance for students participating in further and higher education is provided for under the Student Grant Scheme and Student Support Regulations which are published under powers contained in the Student Support Act 2011. The student grant scheme administered by SUSI, provides grants to students who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means. A number of provisions contained within the 2011 Act and associated secondary legislation, will be affected by Brexit and need to be amended before 1 January 2021 when the current transition period ends.
Part 7 of the ‘Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2020’ , will make amendments to the Student Support Act 2011. The key amendments proposed are in respect of definitions regarding approved institutions, approved courses and student interpretation. Under the current legislation, eligibility regarding approved courses and institutions is limited to courses and institutions located in Member States. The proposed changes will widen these definitions post-Brexit to encompass the UK as a third country.
Each year, circa 1,500 students studying in the UK and circa 200 UK nationals studying in the State, qualify for SUSI grant support. Without the proposed amendments, these students will not meet the current statutory based eligibility criteria. The provisions in Part 7 will address this problem by amending the Student Support Act 2011 to enable these students to continue to qualify for grant support post-Brexit.
