Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 January 2024
356. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to indicate his plans to ensure continued access to third-level education for all students seeking to avail of education at this level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2346/24]
View answerFollowing on from improvements made to the Student Grant Scheme in Budget 2023, a range of further measures were announced as part of Budget 2024 to enhance the scheme and other supports. I am investing €31 million for improvements in Student Supports which will see students benefit from an increase in maintenance rates, the restoration of maintenance for eligible postgraduate students at all levels and an increase to certain income thresholds.
For two years in a row, the student contribution charge has been reduced for free fees eligible undergraduates by €1,000 and by a further €500 this year for eligible households with an income under €100,000.
This has helped over 100,000 families with the cost of college, which can be significant for many.
A number of other once off cost-of-living measures benefiting students in the 2023/24 academic year include:
• An increase to the Postgraduate Fee Contribution Grant from €4,000 to €5,000
• Renters’ tax credit is being extended to parents who pay for student children’s rent in the case of Rent a Room accommodation or “digs”. This change will also apply retrospectively for the years 2022 and 2023.
In addition Budget 2024 also provided for:
• An increase to all non-adjacent maintenance rates by €615 and adjacent maintenance rates by 10% from September 2024. Eligible PLC and undergraduate students will see a pro-rata increase effective from January 2024
• The full restoration of student maintenance grants for post graduates from September 2024 for the first time since the financial crash. A pro-rata increase will also be effective from January 2024.
• From September 2024 the income thresholds to avail of the Band 4 maintenance grant and 100% Student Contribution grant will increase.
From September 2024, a pilot part-time fee grant will be available to provide support for students who are undertaking eligible undergraduate part-time programmes leading to a major award, both in-person, blended and online. This is a significant new initiative which will open the doors of higher education to many groups who could not participate in full-time programmes.
Noting the ongoing cost of living I have increased the funding for the Student Assistance fund for the 2023/2024 academic year to over €19 million. Further details of the fund is available from the Access Office in the higher education institution attended or at www.studentfinance.ie
In addition, tax relief at the standard rate of tax may also be available in respect of tuition fees paid for approved courses at approved colleges of higher education. Further information on this tax relief is available from a student's local Tax Office or from the Revenue Commissioners website, www.revenue.ie.
As we have done for the previous two years, I will publish an options paper on the cost of higher education which will outline various potential measures to address the cost of education across the further and higher education sectors to inform policy considerations in advance of the Budget.
