Written answers

Thursday, 11 July 2019

Department of Education and Skills

Student Assistance Fund

Photo of Thomas ByrneThomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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297. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the student assistant fund allocation in the 2018/2019 school year. [31277/19]

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.

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.

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