Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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1223. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the Irish League of Credit Unions' 2015 report on third level education; if she will take measures to improve the financial situation of students and their families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30933/15]

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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1224. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the finding in the Irish League of Credit Unions' 2015 report on third level education that 94% of students are supported financially by parents which is an increase from 74% in 2014; her further views that this indicates that third level education is becoming inaccessible to those without parental financial support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30934/15]

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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1225. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the finding in the Irish League of Credit Unions' 2015 report on third level education that 72% of parents financially supporting students are struggling to cover costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30935/15]

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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1226. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the finding in the Irish League of Credit Unions' 2015 report on third level education that 41% of parents financially supporting students are finding the cost of accommodation particularly stressful; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30936/15]

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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1227. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the finding in the Irish League of Credit Unions' 2015 report on third level education that 62% of students live at home which is a rise from 44% in 2013; her further views that this indicates an impact of financial pressures on course choice; her views that it indicates that third level education is less accessible to those not living within a reasonable distance of a college; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30937/15]

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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1228. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the finding in the Irish League of Credit Unions' 2015 report on third level education that on average students work 26 hours per week; her further views that is having an impact on the ability of students to dedicate requisite time for their studies and on their academic performance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30938/15]

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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1229. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills in view of the Irish League of Credit Unions' 2015 report on third level education showing on average students work 26 hours per week, if she will increase the availability and the level of the grant so that students are financially capable of engaging in study without the requirement to work hours that would be disruptive to their studies. [30939/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1223 to 1229, inclusive, together.

I welcome the publication of the Irish League of Credit Unions' survey on Third Level Education. In terms of student sentiment, I welcome the findings that almost 8 in 10 (79%) college students now expect to find work in Ireland, up from (53%) in 2013. The survey has also found that less students expect to have to emigrate to find work and almost two thirds of students "say they are looking forward to a bright future in Ireland after they finish 3rd level education".

In terms of supports for students, the main support available is the student grant scheme. This scheme is primarily administered by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI). The purpose of the student grant is to contribute towards the maintenance costs associated with going to college where parental means are likely to be insufficient to meet those costs. Income thresholds are necessary to ensure that this support is properly targeted towards those who are most in need of this assistance. In the 2014/15 academic year the student support scheme provided assistance to over 80,000 further and higher education students.

My Department also provides additional supports to students in higher education via the Student Assistance Fund. This Fund is managed by the Access Office in the Higher Education Authority. The objective of the Fund is to assist students in a sensitive and compassionate manner who might otherwise, because of financial reasons, suffer severe hardship or be unable to continue their third-level studies. The number of students who benefited from the fund in 2014/15 is not yet available however, in 2013/14 over 15,000 students received assistance.

In addition to the supports provided by my Department, the option of 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 including approved undergraduate and postgraduate courses in EU Member States and in non-EU countries. Further information on this tax relief is available from the Revenue Commissioners on their website at www.revenue.ie.