Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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166. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will clarify the circumstances in respect of increased thresholds and grants for further and or higher education (details supplied). [13789/21]

Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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168. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the precise date on which the increase in the reduced SUSI grants (details supplied) and thresholds of eligibility for same announced by him in Budget 2021 for postgraduate students will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13821/21]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 166 and 168 together.

The main support available to assist postgraduate students with the cost of attending higher education is the Student Grant Scheme and the Programme for Government committed to addressing the gap in postgraduate grants. From September 2021 the postgraduate fee grant will increase to €3,500 from €2,000. This increase will allay some of the costs for postgraduate study and would give greater certainty for students in terms of supports. In addition the fee income threshold will increase to €54,240 from €31,500 from September 2021.

The Student Grant Scheme and Student Support Regulations for the 2021/22 academic year will be published towards the end of March/early April 2021. The opening of SUSI's online grant application system will coincide with the publication of the scheme. Grant applications are submitted online via www.susi.ie. Further information in relation to student grant assistance is also available from this website. The telephone number for SUSI’s Helpdesk is 0761 087 874.