Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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222. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will extend third level grants to low-income students who attend QQI degree courses in recognised private colleges, as well as access to the HEA hardship fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30239/16]

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.

The Student Assistance Fund (aka the hardship fund) which is part financed by the European Social Fund, is not available to students attending private colleges.

Decisions in relation to the future funding of student supports will be informed by the consideration of the options contained in the Report of the Expert Group on Future Funding for Higher Education, published in July. As committed to in the Programme for Government, I have referred the report to the relevant Oireachtas Committee as part of the process for building political consensus on the most sustainable approach for funding the higher education sector in the future.

It is open to higher education institutions that operate on a 'for profit' basis to use their own resources to provide financial supports to any of their students that they consider to be in particular need.