Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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120. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will examine the threshold of incomes that apply to SUSI applications; his plans to reverse recent changes which may exclude more students from accessing the grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25207/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that I am conscious of the financial difficulties faced by students. To address this and further alleviate the pressures caused by the rise in costs for students and their families, I have already initiated improvements for the academic year 2022/23 by increasing all student grant maintenance payments, including the special rate of grant, by €200 per year. I have also introduced changes to the criteria for the higher non-adjacent rate of grant which means that from September 2022, the qualifying distance for the non-adjacent rate of grant has been reduced from 45km to 30km. In this way the scheme is responsive to eligible students who reside further away from college by providing an increased rate of student maintenance grant.

I have also increased the qualifying income thresholds by €1,000. The income limit for the special rate of grant is aligned to the maximum point of the weekly State Contributory Pension plus the maximum Qualified Adult Allowance for a person over 66 years in order to target students from households in receipt of long term social welfare assistance effectively. As the Department of Social Protection state pension payment was not increased in Budget 2021 and the student grant means test for 2022 is based on gross reckonable income for the 2021 tax year, the special rate income threshold remains at €24,500 for the 2022 Scheme. However, the special rate of grant payment itself was increased by €200 as part of Budget 2022, along with all other student grant rates. For the 2022/23 academic year, the special rate of grant is payable at the non-adjacent rate of €6,115 or the adjacent rate of €2,575, depending on the distance from ordinary residence to the college attended.

These changes will benefit thousands of students and will build on the improvements that have already been made through this year’s student grant scheme.

This summer in advance of the Estimates process, I intend to publish a paper outlining potential options and impacts, to be considered in the Budgetary process, related to the Student Grant scheme and other programmes related to student supports and costs of higher education, including with respect to those priorities identified in the Student Grant Scheme Review.

Apart from the Student Grant Scheme, students in third-level institutions experiencing exceptional financial need can apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund. This Fund assists students, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances. Details of this fund are available from the Access Office in the third level institution attended.

In addition, tax relief at the standard rate of tax may be claimed in respect of tuition fees paid for approved courses at approved colleges of higher education. Further information on this relief is available from a student’s local Tax Office or from the Revenue Commissioners website, www.revenue.ie.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 121 and 167 together.

I am very committed to the development of stronger North-South links in Further Education and Training and this continues to be a major focus for my Department under its Statement of Strategy.

There is good co-operation which currently exists between Education and Training Boards, and the Regional Colleges in Northern Ireland, of which my Department and the Department of the Economy in Northern Ireland are very supportive. The North West Strategic Growth Partnership is an example of this, where Donegal ETB and the North West Regional College in Northern Ireland ensure their programme complement, rather than compete with each other to ensure the FET needs of that region are addressed.

I also welcome the range of other activity in this area, including the important work which Aontas, the adult learning organisation, have been doing to support collaboration among community education practitioners in Northern Ireland.

I also believe that there is further potential for strengthened collaboration in FET, through the forthcoming PEACE PLUS programme. This new programme will look to support area-based approaches, designed to address skills gaps, which will result in increased productivity and employment and higher levels of cross-border labour mobility.

The types of actions which would be in scope for funding on a cross-border basis include the provision of skills programmes in critical areas such as ICT, digital, green economy and entrepreneurship and delivery of programmes to support people in re-engaging with employment and upskilling. This is an area in which intensified co-operation on a cross-border basis in FET can make a major contribution to the achievement of shared objectives under PEACE PLUS.

The PEACE PLUS programme has been approved by the EU Commission. The Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) is now progressing to a call for proposals stage, and the timeline for the process will be finalised in the coming weeks.

Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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122. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way that the National Access Plan for Further and Higher Education will alleviate the socio-economic disadvantage that continues to be a barrier to accessing higher education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25337/22]

Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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186. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the timeframe for the publication of the new National Access Plan for Further and Higher Education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25336/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 122 and 186 together.

I am happy to give an update on the new National Access Plan - the new plan will succeed the third National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education. Work on finalising the next Plan is almost complete. My Department and the HEA has led a public consultation process and has engaged with a wide range of stakeholders in the preparation of this Plan. The New Plan seeks to target underrepresented students, vulnerable students or students who have experienced disadvantage and therefore face challenges in accessing higher education and experiencing belonging in higher education. Socio-economically disadvantaged students will continue to be a priority group in the next plan as will students from the Traveller community, students disabilities, lone parents and care experienced students.

I will bring the Fourth National Access Plan to Government shortly and it is my intention to publish the new Plan in the summer. I am looking forward to publishing this new and exciting Plan this year. This will be a more student centred plan that drives our strategic goal of inclusion which is a cornerstone of my Department priorities. While the focus of this Plan is higher education, we may in future plans consider widening the scope to include the whole of the third-level system (HE and FET).