Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 July 2022
68. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department is working with the Department of Social Protection to reinstate SUSI maintenance grant for lone parents in receipt of the back to education allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36766/22]
View answerThe statutory based Student Grant Scheme and Student Support Regulations are reviewed annually by my Department, following consultation with various stakeholders. In particular my Department consults with the Department of Social Protection on an ongoing basis around various support schemes available to students in both Departments.
Students in receipt of the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) are not eligible for maintenance support under the student grant scheme, as this would result in a duplication of income support payments. However, students in receipt of BTEA, may be considered for SUSI fee supports up to a maximum of €6,270.
Under the third National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education 2015-2021, which expired in December 2021, Lone parents were identified as a target group that are currently under-represented in higher education. The Programme for Access to Higher Education (PATH) Fund is the funding mechanism that supports the implementation of the NAP through its three Strands – Strand 1 supports access to initial teacher education, Strand 2 provides a three-tiered bursary scheme to NAP target group students and Strand 3 supports regional clusters of higher education institutions with the aim of attracting additional students from groups currently under-represented in higher education. All three strands support the inclusion of Lone Parents.
It is a condition of the 1916 Bursary Fund that at least 20% of bursaries be made available to Lone Parents. Since the commencement of PATH 2, over the last 4 years a total of 235 Lone Parents were allocated a 1916 Bursary, exceeding the 20% requirement each year.
The new National Access Plan will succeed the third National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education. Work on finalising the next Plan is almost complete. My Department and the HEA has led a public consultation process and has engaged with a wide range of stakeholders in the preparation of this Plan. The New Plan seeks to target underrepresented students, vulnerable students or students who have experienced disadvantage and therefore face challenges in accessing higher education and experiencing belonging in higher education.
