Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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56. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the determining factor that results in students of only some third-level educational institutes having access to the student hardship fund. [49540/21]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Student Assistance Fund (SAF) provides financial assistance to students experiencing financial difficulties while attending third level. Students can be assisted towards costs such as food, rent, heating and lighting bills and other utility bills, books/class materials and costs associated with childcare, transport and medical. In general, the SAF has a dual focus and is designed to support students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds with ongoing needs for financial support and provide emergency financial assistance for other students.

Students on full or part-time courses leading to a higher education award (NQF level 6-10) in the universities, technological universities, institutes of technology and other approved colleges who receive recurrent grants type funding from the exchequer from the Department of Education, my Department or the HEA.