Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 July 2023
1457. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of increasing the reckonable income limit for the special rate of the maintenance grant to €50,000 and removing the social protection long-term payment criteria for post-graduate students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36900/23]
View answerThe estimated cost of increasing the reckonable income limit for special rate of maintenance grant and removing the social protection long-term payment for post-graduate students is estimated to cost c€18.9m. This is based on post-graduate student figures for the academic year 2022/2023, and 100% of post-graduate students receiving the maximum special rate of maintenance of €6971 per academic year plus an uplift to the maximum of €6270 in fee contribution. However, this is a demand led scheme and a change of this nature may lead to an increase in the numbers of students applying for support.
In advance of Budget 2024 this autumn, and as I did last year, I will be publishing an options paper which will set out various possible measures to address the cost of education.
I am doing this in order to facilitate public discussion on the various choices available to amend student supports. I will have regard to options on increasing maintenance grants for post-graduate students, when making proposals in the context of budget discussions.
