Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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1278. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if matters raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied) in relation to access to educational supports will receive a response. [18509/21]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Student Grant Scheme, administered by SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland), provides grant assistance to students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means.

The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the centralised student grant awarding authority SUSI to determine.

Approved courses for the Student Grant Scheme are prescribed in the relevant Student Support Regulations and in the Student Support Act 2011. The Regulations prescribe that an approved postgraduate course is a full-time course of not less than one year duration pursued in an approved institution listed in the relevant Regulations. I understand the student in question is pursuing an online Masters degree in Health Promotion Practice in IT Sligo and was refused grant assistance by SUSI for the 2020/21 academic year. Online/Distance learning courses do not meet this definition and are not approved courses under the Student Grant Scheme.

The terms and conditions of the Student Grant Scheme, including the requirement for a student to attend an approved course in an approved institution, are applied impartially on a national basis, and accordingly it is not possible to make an exception in an individual case, regardless of circumstances.

I can confirm replies to correspondences received from the student in question were issued on 21/08/2020 and 12/02/2021. Details regarding the definition of an approved course for student grant funding as well as information in relation to the Student Grant Appeals process, SUSI's complaint process, the Review of the Student Grant Scheme and Tax Relief on Tuition Fees were provided in an effort to assist. Replies to enquiries relating to the student were also issued to the Deputy on 04/02/2021 and 19/04/2021.

As part of the review of the Student Grant Scheme, the definition of “an approved” course within the current student grant scheme eligibility requirements is currently being examined, with a Report due in Summer 2021. The formal public consultation process on the Student Grant Scheme was launched on 12 March and closed on 16th April. The submissions received will be considered in the context of the parameters of the Programme for Government commitments, whilst recognising that the scheme operates in the context of competing educational priorities and limited public funding. Your correspondence has been forwarded to Indecon International Economic Consultants to be considered as part of that consultation process. Further information regarding the review of the Student Grant Scheme is available from: .

Apart from the Student Grant Scheme, the Deputy will be aware of the €168m funding package of for the return to education. This package includes 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. Students on full- or part-time courses leading to a higher education award (National Framework of Qualifications level 6-10) in Irish universities, institutes of technology and other approved colleges can apply. 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.

The student may be eligible for Tax Relief at the standard rate of tax in respect of tuition fees paid for her course. Further information on this tax relief is available from the student's local Tax Office or from the Revenue Commissioners website, www.revenue.ie.