Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 October 2022
554. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if post-graduate students on special rate SUSI will be eligible for the €1,000 fee reduction in fees if their fees exceed the €6,270 fee limit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49523/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI was pleased to announce as part of Cost of Living measures in Budget 2023 a once off increase in the Post Graduate fee grant by €1,000 from €3,500 to €4,500. Postgraduate students who meet the eligibility criteria for a Postgraduate Fee Contribution will benefit from this measure. Postgraduate students who receive the Special Rate of grant will not receive this as they have their tuition fee contribution paid up to €6,270. Those students already receive the maximum support available to postgraduates and the €1,000 once-off increase is targeted at students who receive a lower level of support.
Postgraduate students on the Special Rate of Maintenance Grant will receive a once-off extra maintenance payment equivalent to one month’s maintenance, to be made by this December. The special rate of grant will also increase effective from January 2023.
I also announced a further investment of €8 million in the Student Assistance Fund for the current academic year. This will help many students who continue to struggle financially.
