Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 September 2025
979. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will consider extending SUSI grant eligibility to students of all QQI-accredited courses. [51694/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe main support available to assist students with the cost of attending higher education is the Student Grant Scheme. Under the Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to eligible 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 definition of an approved course is set out in Section 8 of the Student Support Act 2011 and Regulation 4 of the Student Support Regulations/Student Part-Time Fee Regulations for Specified Undergraduate Courses 2025.
In the context of limited public funding and competing priorities, student support funding is currently prioritised towards full-time students undertaking study on approved courses in publicly funded institutions and part-time fee supports for specified undergraduate courses.
Student Grant Schemes are reviewed on an annual basis. Any expansion to a scheme would require consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation. The Deputy will appreciate that the funding allocation for student supports is determined in the context of the overall estimates and budgetary process undertaken by all Government Departments having regard to overall resource constraints and other competing demands.
