Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 September 2024
322. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the maintenance payments and student contribution concessions which are now available to post-graduate students; if the exact same means thresholds apply as for undergraduates; the extent to which fees are covered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38374/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy may wish to note that the annual rates of maintenance and the income thresholds applied are the same for undergraduate and postgraduate students. The Student Contribution is not payable Postgraduate Students, as they are not eligible for free fees.
The annual rates of maintenance grant for postgraduate students, income limits for postgraduate maintenance grants and postgraduate fee grant rates for the 2024/25 academic year are all listed below.
Table 1
Annual rates of maintenance grant for 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
Income Limits for Postgraduate Maintenance Grants
|
To qualify for: No. of dependent children |
Special Rate |
Standard rate Full maintenance Band 1 |
Standard rate Part maintenance Band 2 |
Standard rate Part maintenance Band 3 |
Standard rate Part maintenance Band 4 |
|
Less than 4 |
€26,200 |
€40,875 |
€41,970 |
€44,380 |
€50,840 |
|
4 to 7 |
€28,715 |
€44,810 |
€46,025 |
€48,670 |
€55,768 |
|
8 or more |
€31,128 |
€48,575 |
€49,890 |
€52,760 |
€60,445 |
|
Additional increments that may be applied to the income limits in Table 3 for Maintenance Grants** |
|||||
|
+ increment for each additional relevant person |
+ €4,950 |
+ € 4,950 |
+ €4,785 |
+€4,785 |
+€4,785 |
** Increments which may be added to the relevant income limits.
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** |
* To be eligible for tuition fees the conditions for the special rate of maintenance grant must be satisfied.
** Where a student doesn't satisfy the conditions for the special rate of maintenance this is the max amount applicable.
The Deputy will be aware that in advance of Budget 2025 this autumn, I have on the 16th September published an options paper which set out various possible measures to reduce the cost of education. I will have regard to these options when making proposals in the context of budget discussions.
