Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Barry for this question. This is an area I have taken an interest in since taking up office. The fee payable by a student varies depending on a variety of factors, including the type of course and the student's access route, including previous education. The Department of Justice and Equality adjudicates on a person's entitlements to remain in the State and on the stamp that is awarded where permission to remain is sanctioned, the granting of certain permissions to reside in the State conveys certain rights, as provided for in legislation, including access to education in line with the rights of an Irish citizen. However, some permissions do not convey such entitlements. Determinations of these permissions are a matter for the Department of Justice and Equality and outside the direct remit of my Department.

The free frees initiative and the SUSI support system have been adapted in line with the enactment of legislation, with the most recent changes following the introduction of the International Protection Act 2015. The rules of the respective schemes are cognisant of the importance of access to third level education. My Department also operates an administrative-based student support scheme for asylum seekers which provides supports along similar lines to the SUSI grant scheme. This scheme was introduced in 2015 and is available to persons who are asylum applicants, subsidiary protection applicants or leave to remain applicants. Following a review of the 2019 scheme, I announced in August an amendment of the rules and the objective to have that scheme placed on a long-term footing. These changes were welcomed by the Irish Refugee Council. The requirement for prospective applicants to have attended three academic years in the Irish school system and to have obtained the leaving certificate in the State will no longer be required. Prospective applicants, however, will still have to meet the requirement to have been in the protection or leave to remain process for three years. It is an important step but we need to do more.

To directly answer the Deputy's question as to whether legislative change would be required, I believe it would be based on what I have just set out. I also note the work of the advisory group on the provision of support. The Deputy will be aware that Cabinet considered that today and my understanding is it is likely to be launched tomorrow. My Department will be guided by the commitment in the programme for Government to publish a White Paper on international protection issues by the end of this year so I expect will make further progress on this, guided by said White Paper.

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