Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The full eligibility for the scheme will be worked out and published early in the new year. The €56,000 limit is for a household. It is linked to the income ceiling to qualify for the SUSI contribution. We are trying to align part-time and full-time education. Clearly that number could move up in future budgets if that is the wish of Government and the Oireachtas. When the Taoiseach asked us to focus on child well-being and child poverty, it made sense to start at lower income levels, where we are most likely to capture those most in need. I gave consideration to trying to define certain groupings, such as parents, carers and people with disabilities, but then we would need to justify having one group and not another group. We are trying to ensure everyone can access education and that cost is not a barrier to anyone. I thought that the income threshold was an important place to start. There will be rules for the scheme. It will have to lead to a major award at level 6, 7 or 8. It will need to be done part time and can be online, blended or in person. There will be a set number of years in which to do it. The fee per module that would have been paid by the student will be met by the State.

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