Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 December 2022
117. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if one-off payments in Budget 2023 will be included as income in household income means testing for SUSI applications for 2023/2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59862/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn response to the ongoing cost of living pressures, as part of Budget 2023, I have secured a significant cost-of-living package for third level students.
The cost-of-living package, to take effect before the end of 2022, includes
- a one-off state financial support of €1,000 towards the undergraduate student contribution fee for higher education students eligible for the free fees initiative;
- a one-off reduction of up to 33% in the contribution fee for apprentices
- a one-off extra payment for all student maintenance grant recipients in December 2022 and
- a one-off increase of €1,000 in the support to SUSI qualified Post Graduate students, increasing from €3,500 to €4,500.
In addition, the Department of Social Protection announced a number of one-off measures during the coming months to help individuals and families through this difficult period.
The statutory based Student Grant Scheme and Student Support Regulations are reviewed annually by my Department, following consultation with various stakeholders and other Government Departments including the Department of Social Protection and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Consideration of this issue will form part of the Student Grant Scheme and Student Support Regulations for the 2023/24 academic year, which will published in March 2023.
While the Scheme will not be agreed and published until March 2023, typically the scheme has been adjusted in the past when state payments of this nature increase and I anticipate this to be the case, subject to the usual deliberative process.
