Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Independent)
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66. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there will be an increase in the number of students that will be able to access SUSI support grants due to the increase of €1,000 in the income threshold; the way this will be dealt with; the number of additional applications he anticipates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58614/21]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, as part of Budget 2022, I announced the first major changes to Student Grant Scheme rates and eligibility in over a decade. These changes will take effect in the next academic year.

These changes have allowed me to make early progress in addressing what I expect will be some of the themes emerging from the Review of the Student Grant Scheme. This includes ensuring that the scheme keeps paces with changes in the economy, people’s level of earnings and changes in the cost of living.

The package which I announced includes an increase of €1,000 in the income thresholds for the standard rate of maintenance grant.

The scheme is demand led and it is not possible to give exact statistics of how many new students may apply or be eligible by changing the thresholds. However, I expect it may lead to an increase in the number of students in the scheme of between 1,000 and 1,500 people.

It is also anticipated that this change will have a positive impact on a number of students currently within the grant scheme. Using assessment of last year’s figures as a basis, I would imagine on the order of 6,800 students might benefit from the change in thresholds.

Alongside the €200 increase in the rate of grant, which will benefit all students, and the changes in the non-adjacent rate, these represent significant enhancements to our support for students who rely on SUSI.