Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 June 2024
888. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the cost of increasing the student maintenance grant by €1,000 for full-time students at third level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24609/24]
View answer889. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of increasing the non-adjacent maintenance grant by €1,000 for full-time students at undergraduate and postgraduate level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24610/24]
View answer891. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of increasing the adjacent maintenance grant by €1,000 for full-time students at undergraduate and postgraduate level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24612/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 888, 889 and 891 together.
The Student Grant Scheme is a demand led scheme and as such the number of students who are eligible for grants varies from year to year. As of 4th June 2024, there are over 47,000 students in receipt of a maintenance grant at PLC, Postgraduate and Undergraduate level, if the same number of students were eligible for a grant in 2024/2025 an additional €1,000 would cost c€47m.
In advance of Budget 2025 this autumn, I will be publishing an options paper which will set out various possible measures to address the cost of education. I am doing this in order to facilitate public discussion on the choices available to improve student supports. I will have regard to these options, including any options on increasing maintenance grant payments, when making proposals in the context of budget discussions.
