Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 April 2026
3433. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason the HEA is stating that it is not responsible for the financial student assistant fund when, according to the TUS, the student assistant fund is managed by the HEA. [23664/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThank you for raising this matter Deputy, which I have been informed follows on from an exchange between the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and an individual who had a query regarding utilising SUSI eligibility standard for scholarships and financial assistance.
As the Deputy is aware SUSI is outside the remit of the HEA and they are not in a position to provide information on SUSI eligibility requirements, therefore the HEA responded with information on the student supports that could be relevant to the student in question. Unfortunately, due to the structure of the response, it could be interpreted that all supports listed, including the Student Assistance Fund (SAF), were not managed by the HEA, and this is not an accurate reflection of the situation.
The HEA have been in contact with the individual since the initial communication and have acknowledged the confusion caused by their response. The HEA have clarified that the SAF is managed by the HEA on behalf of my Department.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
