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Third Level Costs

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 October 2021

Wednesday, 13 October 2021

Questions (70)

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Question:

70. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if additional funding will be provided in Budget 2022 to financially assist third-level students given the ever-increasing cost of living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49839/21]

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Written answers

The Student Grant Scheme, administered by SUSI, provides grant assistance to students pursuing 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. It assists over 70,000 students annually to access third level education.

The student grant is an absolutely critical support for the students who receive it. That is why, following taking up my Ministerial appointment, I initiated a Review of the Student Grant Scheme to see where improvements would be most effective. The importance of this Review has been underlined by the rise in the costs of living across society. This has impacted students who have been affected by the increasing costs of accommodation and a range of other costs.

As part of the government’s response to COVID-19, a comprehensive return to education package of €168m was put in place. For third level students, measures such as the doubling of the Student Assistance Fund, enhanced funding for postgraduate students, additional funding for SUSI to cover increased applications to the scheme, a scheme to support access to laptops and digital devices in 2020 and extended to 2021, a COVID-19 Once-off Emergency Grant of €250 paid to students in 2020 and additional funding for student wellbeing and mental health have all been implemented in an effort to provide further support during this difficult time.

I am happy also to give an update on the Programme for Government’s commitment to review the student grant scheme. The review is at an advanced stage, and is in the process of finalisation by the consultations and the steering group. There was significant public interest in the Review, with around 280 submissions and over 9,000 survey responses from students. The final Report will be presented to me later this year and I intend bringing it to Government for approval. It is the intention that this review will inform policy priorities and future considerations regarding the development of student grant policy.

In the context of Budget 2022 I am currently giving consideration to the scope, to commence the process of making prioritised improvements to the student grant scheme for the academic year 2022-2023. This would allow early progress in addressing key themes emerging from the Review's consultations and research and recent trends in the cost of living.

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