Written answers

Thursday, 3 December 2020

Department of Education and Skills

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Photo of Gerald NashGerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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296. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason students who do not receive a SUSI grant will not receive an immediate €250 payment before Christmas similar to SUSI students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40825/20]

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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In recognition of the challenges facing full time third level students the Government has approved once off funding of €50m to provide additional financial assistance in this academic year.

The funding, which was provided in Budget 2021, in recognition of the significant upheaval they have experienced due to the COVID-19 pandemic will offer financial assistance to all EU full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students attending publicly funded Higher Education Institutions (HEI).

The scheme will ensure students;

- Who avail of the SUSI grant will receive €250 top-up in their grant;

- Students who do not avail of the grant can reduce by €250 any outstanding contribution fee payments or receive a €250 credit note for their institution;

- In a small number of cases, alternative arrangements will be made for the payment of the monies to students.

The provision of a support package of this scale requires an appropriate process which must adhere to rigorous audit and robust financial controls. There is no singular process which can facilitate these payments within the required timeframe. Accordingly a number of approaches have been developed to ensure all eligible students receive the allocation.

In this regard I must thank the HEA, IUA, THEA, TU Dublin and SUSI for all their assistance in bringing this much-needed support to students in line with these requirements through existing mechanisms. SUSI and institutions will be communicating directly with students on arrangements and information from SUSI is available here:

Additionally Budget 2021 provides further funding to enhance SUSI grant supports for post-grads and increase support for the PATH access initiative, which seeks to increase participation in Higher Education from the most economically disadvantaged students.

This builds on the specific student supports in response to Covid, which I announced in July including 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 are being distributed through the colleges and further education providers.

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