Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 July 2025
873. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated full-year cost of doubling maintenance grants and restoring the grant adjacency rate to 24 km; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35664/25]
View answerThe Government recognises third level education can be a significant cost for families and students.
In Budget 2022, the qualifying distance criterion for students to qualify for the non-adjacent rate of grant was reduced from 45 km to 30 km.
In Budgets 2023 and 2024 My Department was able to provide further financial assistance to students most in need by increasing maintenance grant rates.
• Effective from September 2023, all maintenance grant holders received an increase in their grant rate of between 10% and 14% with a pro-rata increase for students in January 2023.
• Effective from September 2024, all non-adjacent maintenance grant rates increased by €615 and all adjacent maintenance grant rates increased by 10% with a pro-rata increase for students in January 2024.
• Also effective from September 2024, maintenance for postgraduate students was restored on a similar basis to undergraduate students with a pro-rata increase for students in January 2024.
As the Student Grant Scheme is a demand led scheme I am unable to provide definitive figures on how many students will apply for and receive a grant in the 2025/2026 academic year. I can confirm however, as of 22nd June 2025, 48,642 students received a maintenance grant in the 2024/2025 academic year. A breakdown of these figures for the different grant levels and rates is included in the table below.
|
2024/2025 * |
Special RateNon-Adjacent |
Special Rate Adjacent |
Band 1 non-adjacent |
Band 1 Adjacent |
Band 2 non-adjacent |
Band 2 Adjacent |
Band 3 non-adjacent |
Band 3 Adjacent |
Band 4 non-adjacent |
Band 4 Adjacent |
|
Students |
9,009 |
7,312 |
12,677 |
8,763 |
823 |
506 |
1,662 |
1,129 |
4,049 |
2,712 |
|
Rates |
€7,586 |
€3,230 |
€4,292 |
€1,774 |
€3,332 |
€1,343 |
€2,502 |
€975 |
€1,666 |
€612 |
* Please note that these figures are likely to change as SUSI continues to process applications for academic year 2024/25
As you may be aware from September 2025, I will be increasing all standard maintenance grant thresholds by 15% along with other measures as announced in Budget 2025.
Ahead of Budget 2026, I will publish an options paper, which will identify costs and potential impacts of various policy options aimed at reducing the cost of higher education. Various options for increasing maintenance grant rates will be included in this paper. This paper will inform decision-making ahead of Budget 2026.
While I cannot confirm specific items that will be included in the next Budget, please be assured that options to support students and reduce financial barriers will be a key consideration as part of the negotiations.
