Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Of course, my Department does not refuse people the SUSI grant; my Department sets the criteria under which people may apply, as is the case with any Government grant. I acknowledge the very serious issue that the Deputy and his office have consistently highlighted in engagements with my office on the need to reform and overhaul the SUSI grant system. I accept that the system is rigid. I accept that a system which made progress in consolidating student grants from VECs across the country needs to significantly catch up in understanding the reality that many families and students are facing now.

The scheme operates within the parameters set out in the legislative scheme, which in turn broadly reflects budgetary decisions that we make in this House. I have been conscious that the overall trend of awards in recent years has not kept up with cost-of-living increases or income increases that have happened across the economy. That is why we have brought about the first increase in quite a while in income thresholds. That will kick in from September of this year along with a general increase in the rates.

While the SUSI grant scheme is a very important scheme which supports many thousands of students - some 65,000 students either pay no registration fee or pay a very significantly reduced registration fee - it is just one avenue available to student support. Any student who does not qualify for the student grant scheme for whatever reason may avail of the student assistance fund. That is a significant scheme with a budget of, I believe, over €18 million this year after we provided an additional €1.3 million for it last year. That scheme is available to assist students with many of the costs they may face including the rising cost of living.

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