Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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680. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if funding is available under the funding allocated for third level courses through the July stimulus package for a course (details supplied). [10001/21]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Under the July stimulus package an additional funding allocation of €47.5m was provided for Higher Education skills-related programmes. The higher education elements of the July stimulus package were in three broad areas – further support for Springboard+ and HCI Pillar 1 (€10m), Funding for Postgraduate provision (€22.5m), and the provision of modular courses(€15m).

The Professional Master of Education (Primary Teaching) did not fall into the categories of courses eligible for funding under the July Stimulus Initiative. However, in Budget 2021, enhanced SUSI grant supports for postgraduate students were announced, including an increase in the postgraduate fee grant from €2,000 to €3,500 coupled with an increase in the income threshold for eligibility for this fee grant. Students enrolled on PME programmes can apply for support from the Student Assistance Fund through the Access Office in the HEI in which they are enrolled. A review of the Student Grant Scheme administered by SUSI was announced in December 2020, and the Terms of Reference for this review include examining supports for postgraduate students.