Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 December 2020
467. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 315 of 26 November 2020, the circumstances in which alternative arrangements will be made for the payment of the monies to the students; if the alternative arrangements will involve a cash payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41171/20]
View answerIn 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 will receive a €250 credit note for their institution;
- In a small number of cases, alternative arrangements may be provided by institutions to make a payment to some students at the discretion of the individual institutions.
Higher Education Institutions are finalising arrangements for students that do not avail of SUSI and will confirm the details to their student cohort shortly.
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, SUSI and the individual HEI's 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.
