Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 October 2022
89. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of students who will benefit from the double payment of student grants per county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51092/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI was very pleased to be in a position to provide an additional maintenance payment to SUSI maintenance grant holders through the cost-of-living measures. I can confirm that this additional maintenance grant payment will be paid on the 16th December to eligible students.
As part of Budget 2023, I have also increased the Maintenance Grant rates by 14% for those on the Special and Band 1 rate of grant and by 10% for all other Maintenance grant holders. Importantly, for students in the current academic year the change in rates will be effective from January 2023 so students in the current academic year will see their grant payments increase proportionately once this measure comes into effect in January.
To put this in context a SUSI maintenance grant holder in the 22/23 academic year who is a recipient of the Special Rate non-adjacent rate will benefit by over €1,000 from both the additional maintenance payment and increase of grant rates effective from January 2023.
As the deputy will appreciate the SUSI application process is still open and applications are still being processed. However, as of the 7th of October, SUSI data shows that 49,408 students are expected to benefit from the additional monthly maintenance payment. I will of course arrange for the full breakdown of this data on a County by County basis to be sent directly to the Deputy.
