Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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234. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of increasing the rate of the student grant by 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17807/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The estimated cost of increasing the student grant rates by 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% or 25% would cost in the region of €9m, €17.8m, €26m, €34.6m or €43.3m respectively.

Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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235. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of providing student support to part-time students, both in terms of fees and grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17808/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Based on the Higher Education Authority (HEA) publication of 'Key Facts and Figures' for Higher Education 2015/16, there were 37,249 part-time undergraduate students and 9,773 part-time postgraduate students.

If maintenance and fee grants were introduced for part-time undergraduate and postgraduate students along similar lines to those for full-time students, and similar numbers qualify for support, then the estimated cost would be in the region of €80m.

Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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236. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of providing maintenance grants to postgraduate students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17809/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I secured additional funding in Budget 2017 to facilitate the reinstatement of full maintenance grants from September 2017, for the most disadvantaged postgraduate students. This will benefit approximately 1,100 post graduate students who meet the eligibility criteria for the special rate of maintenance grant. It reverses the budgetary cut that was imposed on this cohort of students in 2012.

This change is consistent with the Programme for Government and Action Plan for Education commitment, to increase financial supports for post graduate students with a particular focus on those from low income households.

If postgraduate supports were returned to the pre-2012 level and numbers, it is estimated that additional funding of €45m would be required.