Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 June 2026
1045. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total cost of increasing the SUSI maintenance by 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% for students. [45302/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government recognises third level education can be a significant cost for families and students. It is a Programme for Government commitment to increase SUSI maintenance rates to better support students attending further and higher education.
Previous budgets have seen all eligible maintenance grant holders receive an increase in their grant rate:
• Effective from January 2023, all maintenance grant holders received an increase in their grant rate of between 10% and 14%.
• Effective from January 2024, all non-adjacent maintenance grant rates increased by €615 and all adjacent maintenance grant rates increased by 10%.
• Also effective from January 2024, maintenance for postgraduate students was restored on a similar basis to undergraduate students.
Budget 2026 further increased all non-adjacent maintenance rates between €200 – €430. Increases were introduced on a pro-rata basis from January of this year, supporting c30,000 students who live 30km or more from their college campus with the cost of rent, travel, and day-to-day living.
Budget 2026 also 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.
The Postgraduate Fee Contribution Grant was also increased in this academic year from €4,000 to €4,500.
Over the past 4 years, an options paper has been published which identifies costs and potential impacts of various policy options aimed at reducing the cost of higher education. Last year's paper can be found at this link: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-further-and-higher-education-research-innovation-and-science/publications/funding-the-future-an-annual-options-paper-on-the-cost-of-higher-education-2025/
The estimated cost of increasing all maintenance rates by various amounts is included in that paper:
• 5% would cost c€10m;
• 10% would cost c€20m;
• 15% would cost c€30m;
• 20% would cost c€40m.
I will publish this year's paper in the Autumn which will inform decision-making ahead of Budget 2027.
