Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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158. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if SUSI grants will be available to students in circumstances in which a final year social care student cannot take up placement due to Covid-19 restrictions and is required to repeat the placement module. [6075/21]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The decision on eligibility for student grant assistance is a matter, in the first instance, for the centralised student grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) to determine. 

A student grant may continue to be paid where a student is required to participate in a placement as a compulsory part of an approved undergraduate or postgraduate course.

Students are advised to contact their academic or placement co-ordinator to discuss their options regarding course placements.

Apart from the Student Grant Scheme, the Deputy will be aware that last July I announced a funding package of €168m for the return to education. This package included a €10m access support package for higher education students. I have approved the allocation of €8.1m of this funding to top up the Student Assistance Fund (SAF). The SAF assists students in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances. Institutions have the autonomy to maximise the flexibility in the Student Assistance Fund to enable HEIs to support students during the COVID-19 situation. Details of this fund are available from the Access Office in the third level institution attended. This fund is administered on a confidential, discretionary basis. 

In addition, tax relief at the standard rate of tax may be claimed in respect of tuition fees paid for approved courses at approved colleges of higher education including approved undergraduate and postgraduate courses in EU Member States and in non-EU countries. Further information on this tax relief is available from a student's local Tax office or from the Revenue Commissioners website