Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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234. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he is aware of full-time students that applied via the Central Applications Office for a State approved Quality and Qualifications Ireland degree in third level institutions such as Dublin Business School and Griffith College, Dublin that cannot apply for a Student Universal Support Ireland grant; his plans to extend the availability of the grant to students at these third level institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21935/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Under my Department's student grant scheme, eligible candidates may receive funding provided they are attending an approved course at an approved institution as defined in the scheme. The definition of an approved institution is set out in Section 7 of the Student Support Act 2011 and Regulation 3 of the Student Support Regulations 2016.

My Department has received a proposal from the 'Wake up SUSI' campaign to extend student supports to students in certain private colleges. This proposal is currently being considered by officials in my Department, in the context of overall budgetary constraints, and the large number of competing demands on available funding.

Decisions in relation to the future funding of student supports will also be informed by the consideration of the options contained in the report by the expert group report on future funding for higher education. I have recently published this report and it will be referred it to the Oireachtas Education Committee as part of the process for formulating a plan for the future funding of the higher education sector.