Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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800. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the financial supports available to postgraduate students in the arts and humanities with the exception of the excellent schemes operated by the Irish Research Council; the impact her decision to abolish postgraduate grant support has had on research in the arts and humanities; if she will restore postgraduate grants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1372/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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In the context of the necessary but difficult expenditure reduction measures announced in Budget 2012, new students entering postgraduate courses from the 2012/13 academic year onwards are not entitled to maintenance payments under the Student Grant Scheme. However, those who do meet the qualifying conditions for the special rate of grant under the Student Grant Scheme are eligible to have their post-graduate tuition fees paid up to the maximum fee limit of €6,270.

A postgraduate student may qualify to have a €2,000 contribution made towards the costs of their fees. The income threshold for this payment is €31,500 for the 2014/15 academic year, increasing relative to the number of family dependents.

Tax relief is also available on postgraduate tuition fees. Details in relation to this relief are available from the Revenue Commissioners. In addition to this, the Student Assistance Fund will continue to be made available through the access offices of third-level institutions to assist students in exceptional financial need.

For students, affordability is just one of a number of factors that impact on participation rates in higher education. There are a range of wider factors that also impact on participation, including social and cultural issues, prior academic attainment and teacher and parental expectations. In access terms, it is considered that the requirement to pay postgraduate tuition fees would be likely to be a greater obstacle to entry than lack of maintenance support.

This year my Department is providing over €31 million to support research activities across a range of programmes by the Irish Research Council. The schemes specifically focus on providing funding support to postgraduate students and early-career post-doctoral fellows. The awards from the Council to post graduate students include funding for tuition fees and an annual stipend of €16,000. Funding is also available from other research funding agencies, including Science Foundation Ireland.

I have no plans at present to change the current arrangements.