Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 July 2022
33. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures that he is putting in place to address student poverty; if he will consider introducing free public transport and investing in student accommodation to ensure that it is affordable; if he will subsidise IT facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36666/22]
View answerFollowing the establishment of my Department, as Minister, I have had a very strong focus on and commitment to ensuring the affordability of higher and further education for all. This is demonstrated by the broad range of initiatives that have been introduced, or are being planned, to support the achievement of this objective over the past two years.
Over 43,600 students have already been approved for support through the Student Grant Scheme for 22/23. The recent review of the Scheme makes a number of recommendations on issues including the rates of grant, income thresholds, eligibility criteria and postgraduate support. It is my intention to progress measures to reduce the cost of education for students and families through changes to the Student Grant Scheme over time.
In this year’s Budget I have made the first changes to SUSI undergraduate grant rates and eligibility thresholds in a decade, as well as changing the non-adjacency rules to benefit students who are commuting. Also students can now earn up to €6,552 during non-term time in 2022 without being concerned that it will affect their eligibility for a student grant in 2023.
On 4th May I launched the Funding the Future framework which sets out my intention to implement a progressive range of measures to address costs as a barrier to education, in the context of overall Budgetary decision-making.
In this context, I want to see the student contribution in higher education reduced in a meaningful way over the course of future Budgets.
On accommodation affordability, restrictions have also been put in place to limit the amount that students can be required to pay up front for their accommodation.
I will be attending the Cabinet Committee on Housing next week to discuss student accommodation policy. This will provide the opportunity to consider with my Government colleagues options for delivery of more student accommodation at affordable rental levels for students.
The distribution of laptops to disadvantaged students helps tackle the digital divide. It is expected that 20,000 students will receive a laptop under the initiative. The Devolved Capital Grant provides flexible capital funding to eligible higher education institutions to support small-scale building works and equipment purchase or renewal, including ICT.
The Department of Transport have introduced a new "Youth Travel Card" which will offer 50% discount on fares across the public transport network for those aged 19 to 23.
Finally, as set out in the Summer Economic Statement the Government is committed to further significant actions in Budget 2023 to address the serious cost of living issues currently confronting all in our community.
