Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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110. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the review of the student grant scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26945/21]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that the Programme for Government contains commitments to, among other things, review SUSI eligibility criteria, adjacency rates and postgraduate grant supports. On foot of these commitments I gave approval to commence a review of the Student Grant Scheme.

A Steering Committee has been established to provide direction for the external consultants undertaking the review. Its membership includes: the Union of Students of Ireland; Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), SOLAS, the HEA; Irish University Association (IUA); Technological Higher Education Association (THEA); Technological University Dublin (TUD), the Department of Social Protection and officials from my Department.

The public consultation process closed a few weeks ago with over 250 submissions received. The views of students were sought via an online survey process. By May 14^thover 8,500 survey responses had been received. The survey process closed yesterday (May 19) and the consultants will now commence their analysis of the rich data captured in the surveys.

It is anticipated that the SUSI review will be completed later this year and will inform policy priorities for the next Estimates process and future considerations regarding the development of student grant policy.

Separately, SUSI opened its application process for the 2021/22 academic year on March 31 and to date has received over 40,000 applications. This year’s scheme includes enhanced supports for postgraduate students which were announced in Budget 2021. I also secured an additional €20m in Budget 2021 to meet anticipated demands on the scheme as a consequence of the Covid pandemic.