Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 January 2022
1145. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when the SUSI review will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63195/21]
View answerI am happy to give an update on the review of the Student Grant Scheme. This was a very important commitment in the Programme for Government, which will help shape decision-making on how we support students over the years to come.
Following a procurement process, the review has been undertaken by Indecon Economic Consultants, under the guidance of a steering group which has included student and sectoral representatives.
There was significant public interest in the Review, with around 280 submissions. A very welcome feature of the process was engagement with students, and I understand that over 9,000 survey responses were received from students across the country.
This strong element of public engagement, in addition to the economic work undertaken by the consultants, should provide a solid evidence basis for the recommendations of the review.
The draft report was submitted to me in late December 2021. Given the inter-connectivity between strategic student support issues and other reform priorities (e.g. the expansion of supports to part-time and blended learners as an enabler of lifelong learning or enhanced postgraduate supports as an enabler to equality, diversity and inclusion in the R&I system) it is now my intention to bring the report to Cabinet shortly alongside the Future Funding Model report.
