Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 May 2024
210. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an increase in funding to third level institutions under the student assistance fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23081/24]
View answerThe Student Assistance Fund is managed by the Higher Education Authority on behalf of my Department. The HEA allocates funding based on the academic year to each of the universities, Institutes of Technology, the Colleges of Education and a number of other higher education bodies. The core allocation for the SAF is €9.1 million per annum and increases were secured for this academic year 2023/24, which brought the fund to over €19M and supports circa 14,000 students.
Over the last number of years, due to the cost of living crisis and the Covid pandemic, this Department has secured annual increases in the fund and I will be seeking the same this year through my Departments annual options paper.
In advance of Budget 2025, I will be publishing the annual options paper which will set out various possible measures to address matters pertaining to the cost of education. This paper will facilitate a public discussion on the various choices available to amend student supports including the Student Assistant Fund. These options will be considered as part of the deliberations around Budget 2025.
