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Grant Payments

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 November 2021

Tuesday, 30 November 2021

Questions (109)

Mick Barry

Question:

109. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will increase the SUSI grants to take account of the increase in rents and living expenses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58654/21]

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Written answers

I am very conscious of the many challenges faced by students this year, including financial worries.

As part of Budget 2022, I have secured an additional €15m to enhance the existing financial supports under the Student Grant Scheme to help deal with the increased costs of attending college.

For the academic year 2022/23 this will mean:-

- An increase to all student grant maintenance payments, including the special rate of grant, of €200 per year which will benefit all students entitled to receive a maintenance grant. There are currently circa 62,000 SUSI grant recipients receiving maintenance support.

- The income threshold to qualify for the standard rate of student grant has been increased by €1,000.

- The qualifying distance criterion for students to qualify for the non-adjacent rate of grant has been reduced from 45km to 30km, effective from the start of the 2022/23 academic year.

I have prioritised these changes for the 2022/23 academic year and they will benefit thousands of students building on the improvements that have already been made for postgraduate students through this year’s student grant scheme. These improvements to the student grant scheme have been a priority for me since taking up my Ministerial appointment.

I also am awaiting the finalised report of the review of the Student Grant Scheme. This will be critical in informing decision-making in future Estimates processes about changes to the rates and thresholds, as well as informing policy priorities and future considerations regarding the development of student grant policy.

In addition I secured a comprehensive package of financial supports from Government for the higher education and further education and training sectors to mitigate the impact of Covid.

This package included:-

- Funding of €3m to underpin wellbeing and mental health and student services in our higher education institutions. This was in addition to the €2m funding that was allocated in Budget 2020 and funding that institutions already provide for these services.

- An additional €20m to mitigate against the continued negative impact of COVID-19 on the Student Grant Scheme and ensure those students impacted by COVID-19 had access to the necessary supports through SUSI to ensure and facilitate their active participation in higher education.

- A doubling of the baseline Student Assistance Funding which provides financial assistance to students experiencing financial difficulties while attending third level bringing the total allocation of the Student Assistance Fund (SAF) to €17.2m:-

This comprises of:

- Baseline core funding allocation of €8.1m.

- €1 million ring-fenced core funding for the support of part-time students who are lone parents or members of the other access target groups identified in the National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education.

- An additional €8.1m of the COVID19 return to education package 2021 doubling the baseline core funding.

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