Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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271. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost to the State of reversing all cuts to student grants over the past eight years. [26907/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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It is not possible to definitively calculate the cost of the various adjustments that have been made to the student support system since 2008, particularly in light of the demographic changes that have taken place.

To put it in context, in 2008/09 there were 57,261 students who benefitted from grant support at a cost of €264 million, whereas in 2015/16 there were 80,622 students in receipt of grant support at a cost of €388 million.

It is estimated, however, that it would cost in excess of €100 million to reverse all of the adjustments that have been made to the student grant scheme since 2008.

Any proposals to enhance the existing level of student supports would have to be considered in the context of competing financial demands and limited public resources.