Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Independent)
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71. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the scholarship and grant schemes that are currently available to third-level students and for students that are refugees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58617/21]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The principal support provided to students is the Student Grant Scheme operated by SUSI. Under the scheme, grant assistance is awarded 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. This statutory scheme is open to people have refugee, subsidiary protection or leave to remain status.

Particular priority is afforded to those on the lowest incomes and social welfare dependents through the special rate of grant, which is currently payable at the higher non-adjacent rate of €5,915 or the adjacent rate of €2,375, depending on the distance travelled to the college attended.

People who are in the protection process, whether that is the asylum, subsidiary protection or leave to remain process, are not eligible to access the statutory student grant scheme operated by SUSI.

However, my Department operates an administrative scheme, called the Student Support Scheme, which provides supports along similar lines. This is available to persons in the asylum, subsidiary protection or leave to remain process and offers the same levels of support as the statutory scheme.

Other supports that are generally available to students attending higher education institutions are the Student Assistance Fund and the Fund for Students with a Disability.

While Refugees are currently not a specifically named target group in the National Access Plan, refugees who meet the eligibility requirements of these scheme can be considered for access supports, such as the PATH programme.

I also want to note and commend the work of the institutions themselves in providing support to refugees, including scholarships. This includes those institutions participating in the University of Sanctuary Ireland initiative. This encourages and celebrates the good practice of universities, colleges and other education institutes welcoming refugees, asylum seekers and other migrants into their university communities and fostering a culture of welcome and inclusion for all those seeking sanctuary.