Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 July 2023
1471. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the projected cost of implementing a €500 maintenance grant for students on mandatory placements as part of their courses; if his Department has considered supports for students undertaking such placements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36921/23]
View answer1472. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department has assessed the cost of payment of a living wage for students who must undertake a placement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36922/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1471 and 1472 together.
The main support available to students is the statutory based Student Grant Scheme. Under the terms of the Student Grant Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding including those which relate to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means.
The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the centralised student grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) to determine.
The issue of paid placement is a matter for the relevant Department with responsibility for the related placements. Queries related to placements and financial supports should be addressed to the relevant Department in the first instance. My Department has no role in this matter and therefore no consideration is being given by my Department to either an additional maintenance or wage payment.
However, I can confirm that a student who is in receipt of a maintenance grant will continue to receive payment of their maintenance grant during the academic year while on a placement.
It is also worth noting that the rate of grant (adjacent/non-adjacent rate) may increase as a result of the location of the placement. For example, if a student is receipt if an adjacent rate of grant (home address is less than 30km from their college) and the location of their placement is over 30 from their home address, they may be eligible to receive the higher non-adjacent rate of maintenance for the duration of their placement. In order to receive the change of rate, the placement must be a compulsory part of their course and a minimum duration of one semester.
Apart from the Student Grant Scheme, my Department also funds the Student Assistance Fund (SAF). The SAF assists students in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances. Details of this fund are available from the Access Office in the third level institution attended and on www.studentfinance.ie . This fund is administered on a confidential, discretionary basis.
