Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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130. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the findings of the survey of experiences of sexual violence and harassment in higher education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6378/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Tackling sexual violence and harassment in our tertiary education system is and will remain, a key policy focus for me and my Department.

I really want to thank students and staff across the country who took the time to engage with this survey and share their experiences with us. A total of 11,417 responses were analysed (7,901 students and 3,516 staff) and inform the findings.

The survey findings point to some positive developments in the higher education institutions that can be built upon in areas such as awareness raising and education. But there are also some deeply troubling findings, such as the levels of sexual harassment experienced by staff and students that responded to the survey and particularly the female students that reported that they had experienced sexual violence.

My Department will now work with the Centre of Excellence for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in the HEA, the higher education sector and the HEA Advisory Group on Ending Sexual Violence and Harassment in Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) to implement the recommendations in these reports.

Data from annual HEI progress updates to the HEA on implementation of the Framework for Consent in HEIsand the findings of the survey reports will provide an evidence base for any funding and priority areas identified in the reports’ recommendations. My intention is to develop an implementation plan to consolidate the advances that have been made in this area since the publication of the Framework for Consent in HEIsin April 2019. The HEA Advisory Group will act as the implementation oversight group, working alongside the HEA's Centre for Excellence for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and my Department.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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132. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when he will publish the SUSI review and bring forward measures to improve the system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6365/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I am happy to give an update on the review of the Student Grant Scheme. This was a very important commitment in the Programme for Government, which will help shape decision-making on how we support students over the years to come.

Following a procurement process, the review was undertaken by Indecon Economic Consultants, under the guidance of a steering group which included student and sectoral representatives.

There was significant public interest in the Review, with around 280 submissions received. A very welcome feature of the process was engagement with students, and I understand that over 9,000 survey responses were received from students across the country.

This strong element of public engagement, in addition to the economic work undertaken by the consultants, should provide a solid evidence basis for the recommendations of the review.

The draft report was submitted to me in late December 2021. Given the inter-connectivity between strategic student support issues and other reform priorities (e.g. the expansion of supports to part-time and blended learners as an enabler of lifelong learning or enhanced postgraduate supports as an enabler to equality, diversity and inclusion in the R&I system), it is now my intention to bring the report to Cabinet shortly alongside the Future Funding Model report.

The eligibility criteria for student grants are reviewed annually by the Department and approved by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. All proposals made in relation to education expenditure, including student grants, are considered in the context of the annual Budget.

As part of Budget 2022, I have secured an additional €15m to enhance the existing financial supports under the Student Grant Scheme for implementation in 2022.

For the academic year 2022/23 this will mean:-

- An increase to all student grant maintenance payments, including the special rate of grant, of €200 per year which will benefit all students entitled to receive a maintenance Grant. There are currently circa 62,000 SUSI grant recipients receiving maintenance support.

- The income threshold to qualify for the standard rate of student grant has been increased by €1,000.

- The qualifying distance criterion for students to qualify for the non-adjacent rate of grant has been reduced from 45km to 30km, effective from the start of the 2022/23 academic year.

I have prioritised these changes for the 2022/23 academic year and they will benefit thousands of students building on the improvements that have already been made for postgraduate students through this year’s student grant scheme. These improvements to the student grant scheme have been a priority for me since taking up my Ministerial appointment.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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133. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students who have benefitted from the improved flexibility relating to the distance requirement to receive the full SUSI grant by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6327/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The changes I announced in Budget 2022, to reduce the qualifying distance criteria for the non-adjacent rate of maintenance grant from 45km to 30km is a key support measure. This will significantly increase the maintenance grant rate for students, who were previously entitled to the adjacent rate of maintenance grant, due to the distance between their place of residence and their college falling between 30km and 45km.

This change along with the other changes I have announced, such as the flat €200 increase in maintenance grant rates and the €1,000 increase in certain income thresholds will mean that more students will be entitled to receive a SUSI grant and that this grant will be worth more to students. These are very important measures that will assist in tackling the cost of College Education for students who are in most need of assistance.

As the new rates will not come into effect until the start of the 2022/23 academic year, this September, the details of the number of students who will benefit from these changes will not be known until the new criteria come into effect.