Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 February 2022
133. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of students who have benefitted from the improved flexibility relating to the distance requirement to receive the full SUSI grant by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6327/22]
View answerThe changes I announced in Budget 2022, to reduce the qualifying distance criteria for the non-adjacent rate of maintenance grant from 45km to 30km is a key support measure. This will significantly increase the maintenance grant rate for students, who were previously entitled to the adjacent rate of maintenance grant, due to the distance between their place of residence and their college falling between 30km and 45km.
This change along with the other changes I have announced, such as the flat €200 increase in maintenance grant rates and the €1,000 increase in certain income thresholds will mean that more students will be entitled to receive a SUSI grant and that this grant will be worth more to students. These are very important measures that will assist in tackling the cost of College Education for students who are in most need of assistance.
As the new rates will not come into effect until the start of the 2022/23 academic year, this September, the details of the number of students who will benefit from these changes will not be known until the new criteria come into effect.
