Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 October 2021
334. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of students who received SUSI grants in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48824/21]
View answerThe principal support provided by the Department in financial terms is the Student Grant Scheme. Under the 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 scheme is demand led and as such the numbers applying each year can change for reasons such as demographics, employment rates etc.
The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the centralised student grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) to determine.
The application process generally opens in late March/early April. When students apply for grant support, the application is assessed and the student is notified of the decision in principle. This allows the student an opportunity to appeal a decision before a final decision is made. In a small number of cases, some students don’t subsequently qualify for grant support.
The numbers of students who received SUSI grants in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021 are set out in the table.
|
- |
2017-18 |
2018-19 |
2019-20 |
2020-21 |
|
Total |
77,498 |
74,588 |
71,397 |
74,849 |
Information at 1st October 2021
Please note that data for 2021/22 is not currently available. First payments will be made on 8th October.
