Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 October 2025
32. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps his Department is taking to ensure equitable access to higher education for all students given the ongoing accommodation crisis and rising cost-of-living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55957/25]
View answerI am acutely conscious of the challenges facing students including difficulties with the cost of living and the cost and availability of student accommodation.
Inclusion is a priority for the Government and my Department. This year, through Budget 2026, I have delivered on that priority:
• Non-Adjacent Grants are up
• The highest threshold for SUSI is up
• Supports are up and
• Student fees are down permanently
Students this academic year are benefiting from Budget 2025 which increased all income thresholds to avail of a student grant including increasing all standard rate thresholds by at least 15%.
In addition, I have: -
• Reduced the student contribution charge permanently by €500 commencing this academic year which will benefit c108,000 students.
• Increased all non-adjacent maintenance grant rates for students whose normal residence is 30km or more from their institution. Importantly, c30,000 students this academic year will see a pro-rata increase of between €111-239.
• Permanently increased the Post Graduate Fee Contribution Grant by €500 from €4,000 to €4,500 benefitting over 2000 students.
From September 2026
Students will see the full benefit of non-adjacent maintenance grant rate increases with the: -
• Non-Adjacent Special Rate increasing by €350
• Band 1 Non-Adjacent Rate increasing by €430
• Bands 2-4 Non-Adjacent Rates increasing by €200
The income threshold for the special rate of grant will increase in line with social welfare from €27,400 to €28,600.
The income threshold for the €500 student contribution grant will increase from €115,000 to €120,000. Combined with the permanent fee reduction, this means that eligible undergraduate students whose households earning are under €120,000 will pay no more than €2,000 towards the student contribution charge in the 26/27 academic year.
I have also secured funding to support students with a disability in higher education and an additional €1m in funding to support student mental health and healthy campus initiatives.
In terms of the Student Contribution charge I think it is important to clarify that any student who is eligible for a maintenance grant are also entitled to a 100% grant towards their Student Contribution Charge. Our targeted measures are therefore supporting families who need assistance most.
