Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 March 2021
639. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on making students attending private primary and post-primary school teaching colleges eligible to apply for the Student Universal Support Ireland, SUSI, grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11590/21]
View answerUnder the Department's student grant scheme, eligible candidates may receive funding provided they are attending an approved course at an approved institution as defined in the scheme. The definition of an approved institution is set out in Section 7 of the Student Support Act 2011 and Regulation 3 of the Student Support Regulations 2020.
In the context of scarce resources, the Department prioritises grants to students attending recognised colleges ahead of private fee paying colleges. It is open to higher education institutions that operate on a 'for profit' basis to use their own resources to provide financial supports to any of their students that they consider to be in particular need.
The Programme for Government contains commitments to, among other things, review SUSI eligibility criteria, adjacency rates and postgraduate grant supports.
The review of the Student Grant Scheme has just commenced and is due to report in Summer 2021. My Department is overseeing the implementation of the review through a steering group with student representation as well as representation from SUSI. Stakeholders in the student grant system will be invited to provide contributions via a formal submission process in the coming weeks. At this point I cannot pre-empt the outcome of the review to indicate when any proposed changes will come into effect.
Tax relief at the standard rate of tax may be claimed in respect of tuition fees paid for approved courses at approved colleges of higher education including approved undergraduate and postgraduate courses in EU Member States and in non-EU countries. Further information on this tax relief is available from a student's local Tax office or from the Revenue Commissioners website www.revenue.ie.
