Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 November 2013
250. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which the hardship fund was adequate to meet the needs of students in each university over the past two years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50719/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Student Assistance Fund is a component of the Third Level Access Measure which is managed on behalf of my Department by the Higher Education Authority and comprises two sub-priorities: the Student Assistance Fund and the Fund for Students with Disabilities. The overall value of the measure for the 2013/14 academic year is €16.2m. The management of the Third Level Access Measure Fund rests with the Higher Education Authority and the allocation of funding for the sub-priorities in a particular year is a matter for the authority.
The Student Assistance Fund is administered on a local basis by participating higher education institutions and targets those students most in need. The Authority approved in July of this year an allocation for the Student Assistance Fund for the 2013/14 academic year of €8m. Each participating institution was advised of its individual allocation in advance of the academic year in order to facilitate timely planning and disbursement to students.
The Fund has increased substantially in recent years, from €5m in 2010-11 to an allocation of €8m in the most recent academic year (2012-13). During the 2012/13 academic year, the Higher Education Authority closely monitored local demand for the Fund around the country. Data collected from participating institutions showed a very substantial increase in demand for the Fund compared with the previous year, the outcome of which was a decision by my Department to allocate an additional €3m for 2012-13 as an exceptional measure, bringing the total allocation for the year to €11m.
Final data on the number of beneficiaries for 2012-13 is currently being collected. A total of 13,347 students benefited from the Fund in 2011-12, an increase of over 5,000 students on the previous year. The HEA is continuing to monitor demand for the Fund from participating colleges in relation to 2013-14.
