The main support available to students is the statutory based Student Grant Scheme which is administered by SUSI. Under the terms of the Student Grant Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means.
The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for SUSI to determine.
In general for student grants purposes, students are categorised according to their circumstances either as students dependent on parents or a legal guardian, or as independent mature students.
A student may be assessed as an independent mature student if he or she has attained the age of 23 on the 1st of January of the year of first entry to an approved course or of re-entry following a break in studies of at least three years and is not ordinarily resident with his/her parents from the previous October. Otherwise, he or she would continue to be assessed on the basis of parental income.
The Student Grant Scheme is a national scheme, and its means test arrangements are designed to ensure that applications are assessed consistently and equitably across the State. The means test takes into consideration the income of the applicant and his/her parents/legal guardian or spouse as appropriate. Further information regarding class of applicant (independent or dependent) and the types of documentation accepted as evidence of living independently from parents is available from SUSI’s website: []www.susi.ie/.
It is important to note that Article 22 of the Student Grant Scheme 2025 sets out for the awarding authority the determination of reckonable income. Reckonable income shall be determined by the awarding authority on the basis of information supplied in the application form and other relevant information and documentary evidence supplied. In calculating reckonable income, the awarding authority shall consider income from all sources. For the purposes of determining the reckonable income of an applicant, certain payments known for the purposes of this Scheme as “income disregards”, are not included in calculating reckonable income. These payments include a number of Social Welfare and other support payments.
I am conscious of reducing the cost of education for students. Successive Budgets have enhanced student supports, including higher maintenance grants and increased income thresholds. Budget 2026 increased the Special Rate income threshold from €27,400 to €28,600 in line with Social Welfare increases and increased the €500 Student Contribution Grant threshold from €115,000 to €120,000, permanently reduced the student contribution charge by €500.
I remain committed to introducing equitable, sustainable, fair and affordable measures to support students. I published this year’s Annual Options Paper on reducing the cost of education on 8th September 2026. It sets out various measures and options to enhance student supports including options on further increasing income thresholds. This paper will help inform decision-making head of Budget 2027.
My Department reviews policy on an ongoing basis, having regard to overall resource constraints and other competing demands in the further and higher education sector. Amendments or extension to the student grant legislation has financial implications and are considered in the context of overall budgetary constraints and the large number of competing demands on available funding.
