Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 November 2020
315. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will allow for the recently announced €250 payment for undergraduate and postgraduate students to be made available to all recipients as a one-off payment rather than a credit note regardless of whether they are in receipt of SUSI or not; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39345/20]
View answer319. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the recently announced €250 payment for undergraduate and postgraduate students in Ireland to all Irish citizens currently undertaking undergraduate or postgraduate studies in other EU countries will be extended; the details of the cost analysis of same carried out by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39449/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 315 and 319 together.
In recognition of the challenges facing full time third level students the Government has approved once off funding of €50m to provide additional financial assistance in this academic year.
The funding, which was provided in Budget 2021, in recognition of the significant upheaval they have experienced due to the COVID-19 pandemic will offer financial assistance to all EU full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students attending publicly funded Higher Education Institutions (HEI).
The scheme will ensure students:
- Who avail of the SUSI grant, including students studying abroad, will receive €250 top-up in their grant;
- Students who do not avail of the grant but attend publicly funded Higher Education Institutions in the state can reduce by €250 any outstanding contribution fee payments or receive a €250 credit note for their institution;
- In a small number of cases, alternative arrangements will be made for the payment of the monies to students.
The provision of a support package of this scale requires an appropriate process which must adhere to rigorous audit and robust financial controls.
In this regard I must thank the HEA, IUA, THEA, TU Dublin and SUSI for all their assistance in bringing this much-needed support to students in line with these requirements through existing mechanisms. SUSI and institutions will be communicating directly with students on arrangements and information from SUSI is available here: https://susi.ie/covid-19-once-off-emergency-grant/
Additionally Budget 2021 provides further funding to enhance SUSI grant supports for post-grads and increase support for the PATH access initiative, which seeks to increase participation in Higher Education from the most economically disadvantaged students.
This builds on the specific student supports in response to Covid, which I announced in July including the provision of additional student assistance including a doubling of the Student Assistance Fund, and a €15 million technology fund for devices for students in further and higher education to assist with difficulties in accessing technology to facilitate their course work in a blended capacity. These supports are being distributed through the colleges and further education providers.
