Written answers

Tuesday, 23 September 2014

Department of Education and Skills

Student Assistance Fund

Photo of Jim DalyJim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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428. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills while recognising the supports currently available under the student assistance fund, her plans to allow recipients of the BETA access to maintenance payments under the SUSI scheme as allowed for by recipients of the one parent family payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35259/14]

Photo of Jan O'SullivanJan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The main financial support available to students attending further and higher education courses is my Department's Student Grant Scheme. Under the student grant scheme, eligible candidates may receive funding provided they are attending an approved course at an approved institution and meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those which relate to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means.

Students who qualify for the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA), may be considered for support for the student contribution under the student grant scheme provided they satisfy the conditions of the relevant Student Grant Scheme and Student Support Regulations including those relating to residence, nationality, approved course, previous academic attainment and means.

Since September 2010, all new applicants in receipt of the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA), and the VTOS allowances for those pursuing PLC courses, are no longer eligible for maintenance support under the student grant scheme. However, the cost of the student services charge and tuition fees payable to colleges continues to be met for eligible students by the Exchequer.

The BTEA is a second chance education opportunities scheme designed to enable participation in second and third level education by allowing eligible people on certain social welfare payments to continue to receive a payment while pursuing an approved full-time education course that leads to a higher qualification than that already held. Recipients of the One Parent Family Payment are not required by the Department of Social Protection to transfer to the BTEA upon registration on a course of further or higher education.

Students in third-level institutions experiencing exceptional financial need can apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund. This Fund assists students, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances.

Information on the fund is available through the Access Officer in the third level institution attended. The fund is administered on a confidential, discretionary basis.

In addition to the student grant, tax relief at the standard rate of tax may be claimed in respect of tuition fees paid for approved courses at approved colleges of higher education. Further information on this tax relief is available from the Revenue Commissioners on www.revenue.ie.

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