Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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216. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if SUSI grants will be paid to all full-time students attending private colleges (details supplied); the estimated amount it would cost to extend the SUSI grant scheme to these colleges; if the recommendation of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills on this issue will be accepted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12112/18]

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 recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee report will have to be considered in the context of the final recommendations of the Committee in relation to a long term funding model for higher education.

As committed to in the Programme for Government, the Cassells' report has been referred to the Education Committee as part of the process for formulating a plan for the future of the sector. In order to inform its consideration of the review, the Committee have requested further information from my Department on each of the potential policy options. The recommendations from the Joint Committee will inform future decisions in this policy area. Before receiving the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee, the Government has moved to increase funding into the sector. In 2018, we will invest €100m more into higher education than in 2016, before the Expert Group's report was published.