Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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101. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to address the anomaly whereby lone parents in receipt of back to education allowance are deemed ineligible to receive the SUSI maintenance grant in view of the fact that this is one of many barriers which lone parents face in accessing education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19267/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware of the Programme for Government commitment to commission an independent review to identify the supports and barriers to lone parents in accessing higher education and to examine measures to increase participation.

The report was published in August 2017 together with details of an additional €16.5m for new initiatives to widen access to higher education. Lone parents were given particular priority in this funding package, with additional funding targeted through new bursaries, support programmes and hardship supports.

These measures, were complemented by measures that were announced by the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection and the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs.

A cross departmental group including the Departments of Employment Affairs and Social Protection and Children and Youth Affairs, has been established to respond to the recommendations of the review.

With regard to SUSI funding, a decision was made in Budget 2010 to discontinue the practice of allowing students to hold the BTEA or VTOS allowance and a student maintenance grant simultaneously as it represented a duplication of income support payments. However, the cost of the student services charge and tuition fees payable to colleges, continues to be paid by SUSI in respect of qualifying students.