Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

624. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if financial supports or subsidies will be provided to students whose third level course is delivered primarily or totally online; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25514/20]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Government has provided funding in the amount of €168m for further and higher education institutions and students to support the return to education. Within this the additional funding provided for student supports will be of assistance to many students particularly those with the least financial resources.

As part of the package of supports my Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science has allocated €15 million of capital funding for a once-off Covid-19 Grant to support disadvantaged students in accessing ICT devices. This grant is being made available to further and higher education institutions. The institutions are using the grant funding to purchase devices to support disadvantaged students who are encountering challenges in accessing devices for online and blended learning. The distribution of the devices, and the associated terms and conditions, will be a matter for each individual further or higher education provider.

Where students who qualify for the statutory based SUSI grant scheme have approved course delivered through blended or on-line in 2020 as part of the COVID response, they will have their student grant continued as normal. Under the terms of the student grant scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students who meet the prescribed conditions of funding including those relating to approved course, approved nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means.

Students in third-level institutions experiencing exceptional financial need can apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund. This Fund assists full-time and part-time students, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances. Details of this fund are available from the Access Office in the higher education institution (HEI) attended. Institutions have the autonomy to maximise the flexibility in the Student Assistance Fund to support students during the Covid 19 pandemic.

The package of Covid 19 supports referred to above, includes a further €10m in access supports for students. Most of this money will be used to top up the Student Assistance Fund, with remaining funding used to support students via the access services in the higher education institutions.

Also part of the package of financial supports for the Higher Education and Further Education and Training sector to mitigate against the direct financial impact of COVID-19, is an additional funding of €3m for mental wellbeing and health services reprioritised by the HEA for their designated institutions.

I will continue to work with further and higher education providers, agencies and key stakeholders including student representatives to mitigate the additional pressures faced as a result of covid-19.

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

625. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if student contribution fees will be reduced for third-level students whose course is delivered primarily or totally online; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25650/20]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Under the Department’s free fees schemes, the Exchequer provides funding toward the tuition fee costs of eligible undergraduate Higher Education students with students paying the student contribution.

The student contribution fee is currently set at €3,000 per annum and can be paid in instalments. The State pays the contribution in full or part for approximately 44% of students eligible for free fees funding through SUSI.

I am very conscious of the impact of the pandemic has had on our students. In July I announced the provision of additional student assistance including a doubling of the Student Assistance Fund, and a €15 million technology fund for devices for students in further and higher education to assist with difficulties in accessing technology to facilitate their course work in a blended capacity. These supports will be distributed through the colleges and further education providers.

The Programme for Government undertakes to provide a long term sustainable funding model for higher education. In addition the range of student supports operated by SUSI will be subject to review. An important objective will be to ensure access to and continued participation in higher education by students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

In relation to the preparation underway for the new academic year in the context of the Covid pandemic, Higher Education Institutions have been undertaking detailed planning and contingencies for re-opening and communicating these to students and learners in the interest of public health of students, staff and communities, this will entail blended learning, combining both online and onsite provision.

Higher Education Institutions have published their academic calendars, with information on the dates for orientation and the beginning of teaching for the autumn semester. Most have indicated in broad terms the balance of time for students between on-campus and online learning. I have highlighted the requirement for all HEIs to provide clarity to their students as soon as possible and to prioritise the overall student experience in line with public health advice.

The delivery of further and higher education in the context of Covid-19 will cost the providers more not less. The Government has provided additional funding in the amount of €168m to support the return of students to further and higher education. Since the student contribution is an important source of revenue for higher education it is not possible to abolish student contribution fees. However the additional funding provided for student supports will be of assistance to many students particularly those with the least financial resources.

I will continue to work with further and higher education providers, agencies and key stakeholders including student representatives to mitigate the additional pressures faced as a result of covid-19.