Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

365. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of extending maintenance grants to all students at the current 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% rate and at the current special rate. [46334/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In 2017, my Department will invest almost €450m in access measures to assist students to participate in and complete higher and further education.

In the 2016/17 academic year, 78,904 further and higher education students received a SUSI grant. The latest statistics for the total number of full-time higher and PLC students is 212,579. Based on an average maintenance grant of €2,150, the estimated cost of extending the maintenance grant to all full-time students would be €287m.