Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 December 2020
556. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if students who have had their fees paid through SUSI and in receipt of the back to education allowance will be eligible for the €250 grant. [39750/20]
View answer564. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if a student studying advanced business level 6 at a local education and training board, ETB, and in receipt of the back to education allowance qualifies for the €250 grant. [40020/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 556 and 564 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, will receive €250 top-up in their grant;
- Students who do not avail of the grant 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 back to education allowance, as administered by the Department of Social Protection, is not a determining factor in a students eligibility.
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.
