Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 September 2020
836. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the five-year waiting period will be waived or reduced in order for SUSI grants to be allowed for those that did not complete studies in previous years. [21601/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the terms of the Student Grant Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means.
To satisfy the terms and conditions of the scheme in relation to progression, a student must be moving from year to year within a course, having successfully completed the previous year or be transferring from one course to another where the award for the subsequent course is of a higher level than the previous course.
The objective of this policy is to assist as many students as possible to obtain one qualification at each level of study, given that the scheme operates in the context of limited public funding and competing educational priorities.
However, the Student Grant Scheme contains a “second chance” provision, whereby mature students who previously attended but did not successfully complete a course re-enter an approved course following a break in studies of at least five years may be assessed for grant assistance.
In 2017, this provision was amended so that a second chance student who attends a course below undergraduate level during the 5 year break does not incur any penalty under the five year rule. This allows second chance students an opportunity within the five years to prepare themselves to re-enter higher education by attending a course below undergraduate level. It also recognises that engagement at a further education level may serve a student’s learning needs and may prepare them more effectively for higher education. Articles 13(6) and 13(7) of the Student Grant Scheme 2020 refer. The normal rules of progression will still apply in that a student must be progressing to a higher level course when s/he returns to college after the five year break.
The eligibility criteria for student grants are reviewed annually by the Department and approved by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. All proposals made in relation to education expenditure, including student grants, will be considered in the context of Budget 2021.
Also, in the context of a person re-educating, Springboard is a specific initiative that strategically targets funding of free part-time higher education courses to enable unemployed people, returners (formerly referred to as homemakers) and those in employment to upskill or reskill in areas where there are identified labour market skills shortages or employment opportunities. The courses, which are at Level 6 (Higher Certificate) to Level 9 (Master's Degree) on the National Framework of Qualifications, are being delivered in public and private higher education providers around the country. Further information may be obtained from the website https://springboardcourses.ie/.
