Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 April 2026
3428. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures he is taking to support non-teacher graduates in accessing PME courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26983/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Student Grant Scheme, which is administered by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), provides fee and maintenance grants to all students who meet the qualifying criteria such as means, residency, nationality and progression. The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for SUSI to determine.
Students undertaking a Professional Master of Education (PMEs) may apply for SUSI and may be eligible for the following supports:
• A student Maintenance grant which was restored for postgraduate students in September 2024 for the first time since the financial crash. The annual rates and the income thresholds for maintenance grants are the same for undergraduate and postgraduate students.
• A postgraduate fee contribution of €4,500 or a postgraduate fee grant, up to a maximum of €6,270 towards the cost of fees is available.
• To be eligible for the postgraduate fee contribution grant of up to €4,500 plus a maintenance grant, the total household income must be within the www.susi.ie/eligibility-criteria/income/postgraduate-income-thresholds-and-grant-award-rates/#d.en.14684
• To be eligible for the postgraduate fee grant up to a maximum of €6,270, the student must be eligible for a maintenance grant at the special rate.
This is dependent on the level of a student's reckonable income and meeting all other eligibility criteria.
In Budget 2026 I was very pleased to increase the Post Graduate Fee Contribution Grant by €500 from €4,000 to €4,500. In addition to this, I have increased to all non-adjacent maintenance grant rates effective from September 2026 - with a pro-rata benefit for students this academic year. This benefits Postgraduate Students, Undergraduate and PLC students whose normal residence is 30km or more from their institution.
The eligibility criteria for student grants are reviewed annually by the Department and approved by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. All proposals made in relation to education expenditure, including student grants, are considered in the context of the annual Budget.
