Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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107. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the criteria for students in the asylum protection system to gain access to the student support scheme to ensure that they can continue their education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10512/17]

Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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108. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to set down the number of persons in the asylum protection system who have been granted access to the student support scheme to ensure that they can continue their education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10513/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 107 and 108 together.

The statutory based Student Grant Scheme is not available to persons in the asylum protection system. However, an administratively based Pilot Support Scheme was introduced in 2015 for persons who are in the protection system (other than those at the deportation order stage) and who are either asylum applicants, subsidiary protection applicants or leave to remain applicants.

The pilot scheme provides similar supports to those available under the statutory based scheme. A review of the pilot support scheme will be undertaken in 2017.