Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 October 2024
638. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to ensure continued ease of access to third-level for all students seeking to avail of education at this level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40288/24]
View answerFollowing on from improvements made to the Student Grant Scheme in both Budget 2023 and 2024, a range of further measures were announced as part of Budget 2025 to enhance the scheme and other supports.
Improvements to the Student Grant Schemes effective from September 2025 include:
• Increasing the Special Rate of Maintenance Grant threshold from €26,200 to €27,400.
• Increasing Standard Rate Maintenance Grant thresholds and Student Contribution Grant thresholds by 15%
• Increasing the Postgraduate Fee Contribution threshold and the Student Part-Time Fee Scheme threshold to match the new 100% Student Contribution threshold of €64,315.
• Ensuring that the first €5,000 of any scholarship/bursary received by a student will not be included as income in the grant means test.
The increase to income thresholds is the largest increase since the creation of SUSI and underlines the Government’s commitment to inclusion. This measure will ensure students in need of financial assistance are not disadvantaged by recent rising income growth. It will also ensure continued supports to students who are under-represented in Higher Education in particular priority groups outlined in the National Access Plan.
I have also introduced a number of other measures to reduce the cost of education and tackle the cost of living pressures which include the following:
• A once off 33% reduction to the student fee for 14,000 apprentices attending higher education institutes.
• A once off €1,000 reduction in the student contribution fee that will benefit an estimated 103,000 higher education students who are eligible for the free fees initiative.
• €9 million funding from the NTF to increase PHD stipends from €22,000 to €25,000 per annum.
• A once off increase to the Postgraduate Fee Contribution from €4,000 to €5,000 for eligible students.
• A once off additional €10 million for the Student Assistance Fund.
Further measures include:
• €5 million for measures to enhance the provision of supports for students with disabilities.
• €6m to deliver approximately 1,200 student accommodation beds for long-term leasing as part of the Technological University Student Accommodation Programme, 30% of which will be below market rates.
• €16.4 million to increase the number of places across veterinary, medicine and other healthcare disciplines.
I was also delighted to launch the new Part Time Fee Scheme for Specified Undergraduate Courses which came into effect from September 1st, 2024. This is the first time, under the Student Support Act, that fee support is provided to eligible part-time students attending specified publicly funded undergraduate courses leading to a major award.
There are 62 part-time courses eligible for this scheme for the 2024/25 academic year, encompassing both in-person and hybrid provision. A measure such as this Scheme, which is aimed at supporting socially-economically disadvantaged students, will have an impact on cohorts such as low-income families, lone parents, teen parents, widows, members of the Traveller and Roma communities, persons with disabilities and carers. This new initiative will open access to higher education to many underrepresented groups who cannot participate in full-time programmes.
