Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 October 2022
560. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the factors that are used to determine distance from the recipient’s home to a higher educational institute in calculating the rate of a SUSI grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49670/22]
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.
The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the centralised student grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) to determine.
Maintenance grants under the Student Grant Scheme are awarded either at the non-adjacent rate or the adjacent rate, depending on the distance between the applicant’s normal residence and the college attended.
The adjacent rate of maintenance grant is payable in the case of students whose normal residence is 30km or less from the approved institution which he or she is attending. The non-adjacent rate of maintenance grant is payable in all other cases.
The measurement of the distances relating to the award of adjacent or non-adjacent rates of student grant is a matter for the relevant grant awarding authority. The distance measurement for student grant rates is governed by Article 27(3)(a) and (b) of the Student Grant Scheme 2022. This provides that the relevant distance will be measured in line with agreed guidelines.The guidelines require that the shortest most direct route between the applicant's normal residence and the institution being attended should apply. In determining the shortest most direct route, the relevant awarding authority shall establish:
- the method for measuring a route;
- the factors to be taken into account in establishing and measuring a route.The qualifying distance criterion for students to qualify for the non-adjacent rate of grant was reduced 45km to 30km, effective from the start of the 2022/23 academic year.
I prioritised this change for the 2022/23 academic year and is currently benefitting students building on the improvements that I have already been made and those announced in the recent Budget.
