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Third Level Education

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 February 2022

Tuesday, 8 February 2022

Questions (141)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

141. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will ensure that all barriers on the path qualification in psychology, speech and language therapy and occupational therapy are removed including the abolition of fees for primary degrees and postgraduate degrees and to ensure that students are paid a living wage for their placements in view of the staffing crisis in CAMHS, early intervention teams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6441/22]

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Written answers

My Department is strongly committed to supporting the health of the population through the provision of graduates with the key competencies and skills to be effective in the health workforce, and support a range of clinical teams in our health services.

My Department already contributes significantly towards the fees for undergraduate degrees. Under my Department’s free fees schemes, the Exchequer provides funding toward the tuition fee costs of eligible undergraduate higher education students. All students eligible for the scheme receive state support whereby the Exchequer pays the cost of tuition fees exclusive of the student contribution (€3,000). The Exchequer pays the student contribution (in full or part) on behalf of students who qualify under the student grant scheme for approximately 45% of Free Fee Eligible students. The fee payable by a student can vary depending on a variety factors including the type of course and the student's access route including previous education.

Where students do not qualify for free fees funding, they must pay the appropriate fee as determined by each higher education institution.

Payments for students on placement in the health services are a matter for the HSE and the Department of Health.

I am highly conscious of the challenges posed by the increased cost of living. As part of Budget 2022, I have secured an additional €15m to enhance the existing financial supports under the Student Grant Scheme for implementation in 2022. 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.

Question No. 142 answered with Question No. 107.
Question No. 143 answered with Question No. 73.
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