Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

416. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide the participation rates of students in recipient of SUSI on the Erasmus+ programme in each of the years 2016 to 2019. [12906/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Student's participating on the Erasmus+ programme is not captured by SUSI, however, the Higher Education Authority captures the numbers of students from disadvantaged backgrounds that participate in the Erasmus+ programme. If the student is in receipt of the SUSI grant, they are entitled to an additional top up support for Erasmus+ mobilities.

In 2014, the HEA introduced a €100 monthly top-up payment to the Erasmus+ grant, called Social Inclusion Supplementary Support Initiative (SISSI), for students with fewer opportunities. This funding is available to students going on study abroad visits and traineeships. The top-up rate was increased incrementally each year and in 2020 was set at €180 per month. Students in receipt of the SUSI grant are eligible for the additional SISSI payment.

Table 1below shows the number of and the proportion of students from disadvantaged backgrounds participating on the programme up to the 2019/20 Academic Year. In 2015/16, students from disadvantaged backgrounds accounted for just under 8% of the total outbound mobilities. This figure increased to 17% for the 2019/20 programme year.

2,236 students have benefited from this additional support during the period that the Deputies question refers. It is expected that this figure will continue to increase as mobilities for this contract period will continue until 2023.

Table 1

As part of the new Erasmus+ programme (2021-2028), the SISSI top up payment has now been replaced as the EU Commission have introduced a flat rate monthly top-up of €250 to support social inclusion as one of the key priorities of the new programme. This is applicable to all member states participating in the new programme.