Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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121. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to begin a phased restoration to 2012 rates of student assistance fund, SAF, to reflect the real costs attached to participation in higher level education here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30344/17]

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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132. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding phased restoration of SAS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30418/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 121 and 132 together.

In December 2012 An additional €3 million was approved to supplement the Student Assistance Fund (SAF) following a survey conducted by the HEA in relation to the demand for the Fund.

This supplementary funding was a once-off exceptional measure which was taken in the context of long grant delays/issues encountered by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) in its initial year of operation.

An additional allocation of €1.5m was secured in budget 2016 for the Student Assistance Fund. The allocation under the Fund in 2017 is €8.1 million.