Thomas Gould
Question:1265. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he plans to increase the SUSI grant threshold. [18288/21]
View answerWednesday, 21 April 2021
Questions (1265)
Written answers
Under the terms of the Student Grant Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means.
The statutory based Student Grant Scheme and Regulations are reviewed annually by the Department, following consultation with various stakeholders. The funding allocation for the Student Grant Scheme is determined in the context of the overall estimates and budgetary process undertaken by all Government Departments. All proposals made in relation to SUSI grant expenditure were considered in the context of Budget 2021, having regard to overall resource constraints and other competing demands in the further and higher education sector.
The assessment of means under the student grant scheme is based on gross income from all sources, with certain social welfare and health service executive payments being exempt. The assessment of income from the same starting point is deemed to be fair and reasonable because this approach eliminates any distortion which might arise from different spending decisions in different households. The Student Grant Scheme provides for different levels of income thresholds where families have (i) less than 4 dependent children (ii) between 4 and 7 dependent children and (iii) 8 or more dependent children. In recognition of the additional cost to families where more than one person is attending college, income thresholds may also be increased by up to €4,830 for each additional family member attending college at the same time. In this way, the Student Grant Scheme is responsive to the individual circumstances of particular families.
If a student or party to their application experiences a change in circumstances that is not a temporary change and is likely to continue for the foreseeable future, they can apply to have their application assessed under the change in circumstances provision of the relevant Student Grant Scheme. The income of all parties to the application will be assessed or reassessed on the current income annualised.. SUSI requires evidence of current income as well as confirmation that the change is not a temporary change and is likely to continue for the foreseeable future. Following such a review, the applicant may fall within the thresholds to become eligible for grant assistance or be entitled to an increased rate of grant or the special rate of grant. The applicant can request a review by contacting the SUSI Support Desk at 0761 087 874 or emailing support@susi.ie.
The Programme for Government committed to addressing the gap in postgraduate grants. From September 2021 the postgraduate fee income threshold will increase to €54,240 from €31,500 from September 2021 and the postgraduate fee grant will increase to €3,500 from €2,000. This increase will allay some of the costs for postgraduate study and would give greater certainty for students in terms of supports.
SUSI’s online application process is now open for renewal applications for the 2021/22 academic year. New grant applicants will be able to apply from April 22nd. Students attending college in the academic year 2021/22 will be required to submit their grant application to SUSI (via www.susi.ie ) to have their eligibility for grant assistance assessed.
The Programme for Government also contains commitments to, among other things, review SUSI eligibility criteria and adjacency rates. The review of the Student Grant Scheme is currently underway and is due to report in Summer 2021. At this point I cannot pre-empt the outcome of the review to indicate when any proposed changes will come into effect.
Apart from the Student Grant Scheme, the Deputy will be aware that in July I announced a funding package of €168m for the return to education. This package includes a €10m access support package for higher education students. I have approved the allocation of €8.1m of this funding to top up the Student Assistance Fund (SAF). The SAF assists students in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances. Institutions have the autonomy to maximise the flexibility in the Student Assistance Fund to enable HEIs to support students during the COVID-19 situation. Details of this fund are available from the Access Office in the third level institution attended. This fund is administered on a confidential, discretionary basis.
In addition, 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