Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy very much. The honest answer to the last part of the question is that it will be a matter for the discussions on the Estimates. However, I take the point she makes about the need to ensure additional supports are brought in for September. It is right to say that what is announced in the budget will take effect from the calendar year 2023. I believe the Deputy is putting it up to me to see if we can do more from this September. I will certainly work on that basis.

The programme for Government contains a commitment to review SUSI eligibility criteria, adjacency rates and postgraduate grant supports. To take this forward, I established a review of the student grant scheme. This was conducted by Indecon under the direction of a steering group chaired by my Department and comprising a number of stakeholders including, importantly, the Department of Social Protection so that it could look at the whole area of poverty traps. Crucially, the voice of our students was also represented through the Union of Students in Ireland, along with the voice of institutions and others.

As the Deputy will know from my answer to her previous question, it is my intention to bring this piece of work to Cabinet alongside the proposals on a sustainable funding model. Issues of cost and access must be considered in tandem with the issues of system funding and reform. I do not want to bring forward a funding model that is sustainable for universities but not for students or their families.  If we want the best outcomes, we need a well-funded system that is accessible to people regardless of their background.  Reform of the student support system can, and will, be a critical enabler of other strategic outcomes across the tertiary education system. Given these interconnections, it is my intention to bring the student grant review to Cabinet alongside the report on funding and reform of higher education, both of which will be published together.

Implementing the report recommendations is a key priority for my Department. I am pleased to say we have started this process. I know the Deputy will argue with me about the pace but we have started to initiate these improvements. Indeed, I will be signing regulations this week to bring in a number of improvements to the SUSI grant scheme from September. These include increases to the thresholds and income levels and improvements to the situation regarding adjacency rates. All student grant maintenance payments, including the special rate of grant, will increase by €200 per year, the income thresholds to qualify will increase by €1,000, and the qualifying distance criterion for students to qualify for the non-adjacent rate of grant has been reduced from 45 km to 30 km.  I will sign those regulations this week.

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