Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 May 2021
207. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the cost of widening access to student assistance fund supports for non-EU international students. [28563/21]
View answerThe Student Assistance Fund (SAF) provides financial assistance to students experiencing financial difficulties while attending third level. Students can be assisted towards costs such as rent, childcare costs, transport costs and books/class materials. Students on full or part-time courses leading to a higher education award (NQF level 6-10) in the universities, institutes of technology and other approved colleges can apply for the SAF. The core allocation for the SAF is €9.1 million per annum which supports circa 14,000 students. This includes €1 million which was added to the fund in 2017 for part-time students who are lone parents or members of the other access target groups. As part of the package of COVID supports provided by Government last year, €10 million was allocated to an Access Funding package of which €8.1 million was allocated to the Student Assistance Fund. This brought the 2020 SAF allocation to €18.2 million.
In all cases, HEIs are responsible for targeting the available resources at those students most in need. International/non-EU fee paying students are not eligible for funding. HEIs are however advised to ring-fence a small fund from non-EU fee income to provide for any emergency financial requirements arising for these students.
Students who are non-EU nationals, but who are eligible for free or reduced fees in line with the criteria for the free fees initiative may be considered for the SAF subject to meeting the criteria outlined above.
As a measure of the type of costs involved If an additional 1000 students were to receive the SAF at an average cost of €657 per student the estimated additional cost would be €657,000 per annum.
