Further and Higher Education

Monday, 9 September 2024

Questions (2014)

Richard Bruton

Question:

2014. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the various rates of maintenance grant; and the various rates of discount on student contribution which will apply in the coming academic year under the SUSI scheme and the income thresholds at which they take effect. [35853/24]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

The annual rates of maintenance grant for undergraduate and postgraduate students, maximum tuition fee grant rates for undergraduate students, postgraduate fee grant rates, student contribution grant rates for undergraduate students and income limits for the student contribution grant for the 2024/25 academic year are all listed below.

Table 1

Annual rates of maintenance grant for undergraduate and postgraduate students

2024/25 academic year

-	Non-Adjacent Rate	Adjacent Rate
Special rate of maintenance	€7,586	€3,230
Standard rate—Full Maintenance Band 1	€4,292	€1,774
Standard rate—Part Maintenance Band 2	€3,332	€1,343
Standard rate—Part Maintenance Band 3	€2,502	€975
Standard rate—Part Maintenance Band 4	€1,666	€612

Table 2

Maximum tuition fee grant rate for undergraduate students for the 2024/25 academic year

In respect of the following courses

Maximum fee limit Full (100%) grant in

respect of tuition fees

Maximum fee limit Part (50%) grant in respect of tuition fees

Approved undergraduate courses to which the Free Fees Schemes applies.

100% of the EU rate of fee

50% of the EU rate of fee

Approved undergraduate courses provided in the State to which the Free Fees Schemes does not apply.

€6,270

€3,135

Table 3

Postgraduate Fee Grant Rates for the 2024/25 academic year

In respect of the following courses

Maximum fee

limit for grant

in respect of tuition fees

Postgraduate Fee Contribution

Approved postgraduate

courses provided in the State or Northern Ireland.

€6,270

€4,000

Table 4

Student Contribution Grant Rates for undergraduate students for the 2024/25 academic year	Rate
Full (100%) grant in respect of the student contribution charge	€3,000
Part (50%) grant in respect of the student contribution charge	€1,500
Part (€500) grant in respect of the student contribution charge	€500

Table 5

Income limits for the student contribution grant for the 2024/25 academic year

To qualify for:	Student Contribution 100%	Student Contribution 50%	Student Contribution €500
No. of dependent children
Less than 4	€55,924	€62,000	€100,000
4 to 7	€61,342	€68,014	€109,600
8 or more	€66,501	€73,727	€118,806
Additional increments that may be applied to the income limits in Table C for Student Contribution Grants**
+ increment for each additional relevant person	+ €4,950	+ €4,950	+ €4,950

The Deputy will be aware that in advance of Budget 2025 this autumn, I will be publishing an options paper which will set out various possible measures to reduce the cost of education. I am doing this in order to facilitate public discussion on the various choices available to improve student supports. I will have regard to these options when making proposals in the context of budget discussions.