Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 January 2021
408. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will introduce a mechanism for fourth year student nurses not in receipt of SUSI to receive the €250 refund in view of the fact that they will not be on campus in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2875/21]
View answerIn recognition of the challenges facing full time third level students the Government is providing financial assistance in this academic year 2020/21 to all SUSI eligible students and to EU full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students attending publicly funded Higher Education Institutions in the state.
Under this initiative students who avail of the SUSI grant will receive a €250 top-up in their grant. Full time EU Students students who do not avail of the grant but attend publicly funded Higher Education Institutions in the state can reduce by €250 any outstanding student 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 at the discretion of institution.
These options are designed to ensure students who are not in receipt of SUSI benefit from the measure. It is also the intention that these address circumstances where students are in final year, have paid their contribution fee and may not be on campus, as in the case of final year student nurses on clinical placement. Institutions are communicating directly with students on arrangements for providing the allocation.
