Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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132. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of plans his Department has to offer supports for families which fall outside the income limits for a student maintenance or fee grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38372/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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My Department currently provides more than €400m in student supports to assist some 80,000 disadvantaged students to participate in higher education. Approximately 45% of all undergraduate students in higher education received financial support in the 2015/16 academic year. The principal support is provided for under the statutory based student grant scheme, which makes available means-tested financial assistance to students in further and higher education and which is operated by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI).

I am also reintroducing, from September 2017, the maintenance grant (worth almost €6,000 per student) for postgraduate students who meet the qualifying conditions for the special rate of grant.

In relation to other supports, students in third-level institutions experiencing exceptional financial need can apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund. This Fund assists students, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances. Information on the fund is available through the Access Officer in the third level institution attended.

Tax relief at the standard rate of tax may also 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.