Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 December 2016
136. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of money spent by each higher education institution under the student assistance fund for the 2016/2017 academic year to date; the amount each institution has remaining in the fund; the amount of applicants per institution for assistance under the fund; the number that received assistance; the number that were refused; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38396/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Student Assistance Fund (SAF) is a component of the Third Level Access Measure (TLAM) co-financed by the European Social Fund and is managed by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) on behalf of the Department. The HEA allocate funding to participating institutions. The total amount of funding allocated to SAF in 2016/17 is €7.99m.
I understand from the HEA that SAF funding for the 2016/17 academic year has recently been allocated to higher education institutions. The type of information requested by the Deputy will not be available until after the end of the current academic year.
However, based on previous years, it is my understanding that almost all of the funding allocated to participating institutions is spent.
Some 15,700 students were assisted through the Fund in 2015/16. It is expected that there will be a similar number of beneficiaries in the 2016/17 academic year.
While the HEA collate data on the number of beneficiaries of the Fund, it does not collect data in relation to the number of applications. However, the recently published Review of the Student Assistance Fund indicates that on average 80% of applicants applying for support are approved.
The recommendations of this review are currently being implemented by the HEA.
