Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister and acknowledge the great strides he is making in ensuring that people have access to further and higher education and the options he has put in place over recent months. The recent reform of the SUSI grant and the CAO process are very welcome developments. I would appreciate some further information on the breakdown of the student assistance fund. The Minister gave us some figures. I understand it is being divided up and has a baseline core funding of €8.1 million. I see that was doubled as part of the Covid-19 response. The baseline funding was doubled and €1 million ring-fenced to support part-time students who are lone parents. Will there be any further changes to how this funding is allocated to specific institutions or is further engagement taking place in that regard? Will that be expanded in the months ahead?

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