Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 November 2021
675. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will outline all changes to the student grant scheme in 2021-2022 academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52383/21]
View answerThe 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 changes to the Student Grant Scheme 2021, which relates to the 2021/22 academic year, were as follows:
- the income threshold for postgraduate students was increased from €31,500 to €54,250 and the fee grant contribution increased from €2,000 to €3,500;
- The following payments were included as income disregards therefore these additional payments will not be included in the calculation of reckonable income for 2021/22:
- Fuel Allowance; Living Alone Allowance; Dormant Account Funding for Traveller Participation in HE; Pandemic Placement Grant for Student Nurses and Midwives and the COVID-19 Once-off Emergency Grant.
- Benefit Payment for 65 Year Olds was included as an eligible payment for the special rate of grant;
- Irish Research Council - Postgraduate Stipend Increase - the value of the stipend amount provided for in the student grant scheme was increased to €18,500 in order to align it with the increase announced in January 2021;
- Provision was made for those students affected by the Calculated Grades for Leaving Certificate Students 2020.
Apart from the student grant and dedicated access supports, it is important to note the range of additional supports which have been put in place for students as part of Budget 2021 and as part of the Government's COVID return to education packages in 2020 and 2021:
- The level of core funding available in the Student Assistance Fund for 2020 and 2021 was doubled;
- €1.9m in the form of a once-off COVID-19 contingency fund to enable HEIs deliver local COVID-19 responses to support disadvantaged students in 2020 and 2021;
- The level of funding for the 1916 Bursary Fund (also known as PATH 2) increased to €5.2 million per annum, which will provide bursaries for the most disadvantaged students within National Access Plan target groups in the country;
- An additional €20 million in funding for SUSI in 2021 to cover increased applications to the scheme;
- €6 million allocated to enhance SUSI support for postgraduates;
- €15 million scheme in 2020 to support access to laptops and digital devices
- Separate capital funding has issued to HEIs in the form of an IT equipment grant and minor works grants, these can be used to address laptop and digital device requirements for students in 2021.
- €50 million was provided financial assistance to full time third level students in recognition of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on this group.
- €300,000 has been secured through the Dormant Accounts Fund for targeted supports to address the implications of COVID-19 on Traveller participation in higher education.
