Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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On a breakdown, if we take the year 2021-2022, the general student assistance fund was €18.1 million. There was an allocation of €1 million for part-time students. There was Covid or cost-of-living additional funding in the year 2021-2022 of €8.1 million and €1.3 million, which rolled up into €18.5 million. Similarly for the year 2022-2023, it is €8.1 million, with €1 million for part-time students. Again, with the €8 million for Covid and cost-of-living funding this rolled up to €17.1 million.

I have not heard what the Deputy said about the student assistance fund being told it would only get half of what it received in previous years. The autonomy is with the local higher education institutions. Broadly, and it is not an exhaustive list, one could also look at books or other class material to enable students to participate in teaching and learning. One can get payments for rent, heating, lighting bills, other utility bills, mobile phone data plans, food, essential travel, childcare costs, medical costs, and family difficulties, for example, in cases of bereavement. It is a pretty broad criteria. The Deputy knows how it works.