Written answers

Tuesday, 11 June 2019

Department of Education and Skills

Student Assistance Fund

Photo of Margaret Murphy O'MahonyMargaret Murphy O'Mahony (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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218. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of the student assistance fund ring-fenced for specific groups of students; if it will continue to be ring-fenced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23324/19]

Photo of Joe McHughJoe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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The Student Assistance Fund (SAF) provides financial assistance to students experiencing financial difficulties while attending third level. Students can be assisted towards the rent, childcare costs, transport costs and books/class materials.

The core allocation in 2018/2019 was €8.1 million.  An additional €1m was added to the Fund in 2017 which is specifically ring-fenced for part-time students who are lone-parents or members of the other access target groups. Prior to that the fund supported full-time students only. There are no plans at present to change this.

In December 2018 specifically for the 2018/19 academic year, a further €1 million was added to the Fund for students attending Professional Masters of Education courses, who are experiencing financial difficulty.

The total 2018/2019 allocation for the SAF was €10.1 million.

Photo of Margaret Murphy O'MahonyMargaret Murphy O'Mahony (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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219. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students who received the student assistance fund in each of the years 2012 to 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23325/19]

Photo of Joe McHughJoe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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The Student Assistance Fund (SAF) provides financial assistance to students experiencing financial difficulties while attending third level. Students can be assisted towards the rent, childcare costs, transport costs and books/class materials.

In 2012/2013 the number of students who availed of the SAF was 17,840.  This increase was due to a once-off supplementary funding which was given in the context of long grant delays/issues encountered by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) in its initial year of operation.

SAF recipients for subsequent years were as follows: 

2013/2014: 15,166 students; 2014/2015: 14,959 students; 2015/2016: 15,772 students; 2016/2017: 16,019 students; 2017/2018: 14,156 students.

While the numbers of recipients decreased in 2017/18 the allocation to the Student Assistance Fund has increased. In 2016/2017 almost €8m was allocated for the Student Assistance Fund (SAF).  In 2017/2018 SAF was extended to support part-time students who are lone parents and from other target groups in the National Access Plan by adding a further €1m to the Fund. A total of €9.1m was allocated through the Student Assistance Fund (SAF) in 2017/2018.

In December 2018 a further €1 million was added to the Fund for students attending Professional Masters of Education courses, who are experiencing financial difficulty.

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