Richard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:566. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost to increase student grants to their highest historical levels. [33582/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 23 July 2019
Ceisteanna (566)
Freagraí scríofa
It is not possible to definitively calculate the cost of the various adjustments that have been made to the student support system since 2008, particularly in light of the demographic changes that have taken place.
To put it in context, in 2008/09 there were 57,261 students who benefitted from grant support at a cost of €264 million, whereas in 2017/18 there were over 77,000 students in receipt of grant support at a cost of €363 million.
It is however, estimated that it would cost in excess of €100 million to reverse all of the adjustments that have been made to the student grant scheme since 2008.