Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 March 2022
74. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of students in third-level institutions by institution and reason applying for support under the student assistance fund, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12765/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Student Assistance Fund (SAF) provides financial assistance to students experiencing financial difficulties while attending third level. In general, the SAF has a dual focus, it is designed to support students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds with ongoing needs for financial support and provide emergency financial assistance for other students.
The core funding allocation for the Student Assistance Fund is €9.1m. This includes €1 million of ring-fenced core funding allocated in 2017 for the support of part-time students who are lone parents or members of the other access target groups identified in the National Plan for Equity of Access to
Higher Education 2015-2021. Prior to that the fund supported full-time students only.
As part of the package of COVID19 supports for 2020 and 2021 the level of baseline core funding was doubled by providing an additional €8.1m in each of those two years.
Also in 2021 an additional €1.3m was allocated to the Fund to meet the additional demands identified by the Higher Education Institutions arising from COVID19.
It was recognised that COVID-19 had a major impact on the financial situation of students and their families. Therefore, the SAF was used to support students who found themselves in need of financial support due to COVID-19. An additional €8.1 million was provided in 2020/21 and an additional €9.4m in 2021/22 to assist these students.
In 2019/2020, 14,330 students were supported through the SAF. This increased to 20,669 in 2020/2021.
The SAF is available to assist students who are unable to meet costs associated with day-to-day participation in higher education, including:
- books and other class material that are required to enable students to continue and participate in teaching and learning and/or complete examinations
- rent, heating and lighting bills and other utility bills e.g., mobile phone data plans, that are required to enable students to continue and participate in teaching and learning and/or complete examinations
- food
- essential travel
- childcare costs
- medical costs
- family difficulties e.g., bereavement
The attached file details the number of students in third-level institutions, broken down by higher education institution, who were supported through the SAF in 2020/2021.
