Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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414. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if SUSI grants will be paid to all full-time students attending private colleges; if SUSI grants will be paid to the students and not to the colleges; if all full time QQI degree students will be allowed access the HEA student hardship fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46836/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Under my Department's student grant scheme, eligible candidates may receive funding provided they are attending an approved course at an approved institution, as defined in the scheme. The definition of an approved institution is set out in Section 7 of the Student Support Act 2011 and Regulation 3 of the Student Support Regulations 2017.

The Student Assistance Fund (aka the student hardship fund) is managed by the Higher Education Authority on behalf of my Department. The Fund is allocated annually to the universities, the institutes of technology, the colleges of education and a number of other higher education institutions.

The Deputy may be aware of the publication of a “Report on the eligibility of maintenance grants to students (Wake-up SUSI)” by the Joint Committee on Education and Skills, in September. A copy of the report was received by my Department in October. Its contents are currently being considered by my officials in the context of overall budgetary constraints and the large number of competing demands on available funding.

The issue of the future funding of student supports has been raised in the wider context of the Cassell’s Report which has proposed a series of options for a sustainable funding model for third level. The report is being considered by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills in order to build political consensus on the most appropriate future funding model. I understand that the Committee is finalising its deliberations and is due to report to the Minister for Education and Skills in the near future.