Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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165. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost to increase the student assistance fund by 20%. [27516/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The SAF is designed to support students in third-level institutions who are experiencing exceptional financial need. This Fund assists students, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances.

The fund was recently extended to part-time students following the allocation of an additional €1m in Budget 2017.

The Current allocation for SAF amounts to €9.1m therefore an increase of 20% would be estimated at €10.92m, an increase of €1.82m from current allocation.