Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 September 2020
600. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of increasing student grants to their highest historical levels. [24808/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt 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 €264m, whereas in 2019/20 there were over 71,000 students in receipt of grant support at a cost of €340m.
It is however, estimated that it would cost in excess of €100m to reverse all of the adjustments that have been made to the student grant scheme since 2008.
