Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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274. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the level of supports available through SUSI or other such sources for persons that were on jobseeker's payment but are commencing a level 9 masters conversion course which is a higher diploma in social policy and practice and is not a masters programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39876/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The principal support provided by my Department, is the student grant scheme. The scheme makes available means-tested financial assistance to qualifying full-time students in further and higher education.

Additional funding of €4 million was secured in Budget 2017 to facilitate the reinstatement of full maintenance grants, from September 2017, for the most disadvantaged postgraduate students.

Postgraduate students who meet the qualifying conditions for the special rate of grant under the Student Grant Scheme are eligible for a maintenance grant of up to €5,915; the income threshold for this grant is €23,000. Qualifying postgraduate students may also be eligible to have their tuition fees paid up to a maximum fee limit of €6,270.

Alternatively a postgraduate student may qualify to have a €2,000 contribution made towards the cost of his/her fees. The income threshold for this payment is €31,500 for the 2017/2018 academic year.

My Department also provides funding for the Student Assistance Fund (SAF). The fund is available in various publicly funded higher education institutions. The SAF provides financial assistance to students experiencing financial difficulties while attending third level. Students can be assisted towards their rent, childcare costs, transport costs and books/class materials. The SAF is open to full-time registered students on courses of not less than one year's duration leading to an undergraduate or postgraduate qualification.

Tax relief at the standard rate of tax may be claimed in respect of tuition fees paid for approved courses at approved colleges of higher education. Further information on this tax relief is available from the Revenue Commissioners at