Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein)
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74. 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. [6356/22]

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.