Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 October 2022
269. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to financially assist students who are attending a college (details supplied); if he will review this matter urgently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48759/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe student grant scheme is a statutory based scheme administered by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI). To qualify for student supports under the scheme, students must be attending an ‘approved course’ at an ‘approved institution’.
The definition of an approved institution is set out in Section 7 of the Student Support Act 2011 and Regulation 3 of the Student Support Regulations 2022. In this regard, the inclusion of any new institutions require the Minister to have regard to the policies and principles as set out in section 7 of the Student Support Act 2011 and seek the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
The list of approved institutions is predominantly populated by publicly funded institutions. While there are a small number of private institutions who have certain courses approved on the list these are categorised as ‘not for profit’ institutions. Apart from the new Technological Universities prescribed under the Technological Universities Act 2018, no additional institutions have been added to the scheme since the passing of the 2011 Act.
As the college referred to by the Deputy is a private educational institution, it does not come under the remit of the Student Grant Scheme. In the context of limited public funding and competing priorities, student support funding is currently targeted at full-time students undertaking study in approved publicly funded institutions. Any consideration to extend the list of approved institutions would not only have to consider the potential impact on existing approved institutions but also other institutions both in Ireland and across the EU.
It is open to higher education institutions that operate on a 'for profit' basis to use their own resources to provide financial supports to any of their students that they consider to be in particular need.
Tax relief at the standard rate of tax may be claimed in respect of tuition fees paid for approved courses at approved colleges of higher education including approved undergraduate and postgraduate courses in EU Member States and in non-EU countries. Further information on this tax relief is available from a student's local Tax office or from the Revenue Commissioners website www.revenue.ie
