Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Berry for raising the initiative. This is the week that refunds have started flowing into students' accounts, which is the €1,000 refund. We will also see the bonus student grant payment on 16 December, and all student grants rising by between 10% and 14% from January.

I will look at the two specific groups the Deputy has referred to. I must point out that this is the first reduction in student fees in some 27 years. We will also have other measures, such as the student assistance fund, to assist the students in financial hardship. I will refer to Deputy directly.

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