Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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333. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department provides funding towards hardship funds administered by third-level colleges and universities to assist students facing financial difficulties; and, if so, if he will provide details of the way that this fund is managed by each institution. [28632/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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My Department provides funding on an annual basis to the Student Assistance Fund (SAF) to assist students who are unable to meet costs associated with day-to-day participation in higher education.

The core funding allocation for the SAF is €9.1m. This includes €1 million of ring-fenced core funding allocated in 2017 for the support of part-time students who are lone parents or members of the other access target groups identified in the National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education 2015-2021. Prior to that the fund supported full-time students only. 

As part of the package of COVID19 supports for 2020 and 2021 the level of baseline core funding was doubled by providing an additional €8.1m in each of those two years. 

Also in 2021 an additional €1.3m was allocated to the Fund to meet the additional demands identified by the Higher Education Institutions arising from COVID19.  

It was recognised that COVID-19 had a major impact on the financial situation of students and their families. Therefore, the SAF was used to support students who found themselves in need of financial support due to COVID-19.  

The total SAF allocation in 2020/2021 was €17.2m and in 2021/2022 was €18.5m. 

The Higher Education Authority (HEA) manage the SAF on behalf of the Department.  SAF allocations are dispersed to eligible higher education institutions by the HEA.

The SAF provides financial assistance to students experiencing financial difficulties while attending third level.  Students can be assisted towards the rent, childcare costs, transport costs and books/class materials, Heating/lighting bills, food and medical bills. 

Students on full or part-time courses leading to a higher education award (NQF level 6-10) in the universities, institutes of technology and other approved colleges can apply for the SAF.

Students who experience financial difficulty should contact the access or student services office in the institution they are attending for further information on how to apply for the SAF.

The HEA provide guidelines each year to institutions for the Student Assistance Fund.

These guidelines include details on

1. Criteria for the fund including details on eligible students, eligible costs, and ineligible costs

2. Best practice guidelines including information on publicising the fund, recommendations for - the application process, training and development of staff administering the fund, decision making and appeals process

3. Financial, data and reporting requirements for Institutions

While institutions are expected to adhere to these guidelines, they manage the fund, application process and funding awards within their own institution.

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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334. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he has read the recent report by an organisation (details supplied) comparing the education systems North and South; and if his Department will take any actions on foot of same. [28635/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The main focus of the report to which the Deputy refers is on education in the context of primary and post-primary, although it does refer to the promotion of collaboration at further and higher education, as well as research and innovation. I was struck by its message of the common challenges facing systems North and South, and how the promotion of collaboration and shared practice is central to increasing opportunities for all on this island.

It is important to note that my Department has undertaken a series of measures to facilitate further the promotion of North-South collaboration, not least the signing last year of the Memorandum of Understanding on the Common Travel Area. This ensured that student mobility would continue to be protected after Brexit, through continued access to SUSI loans and Home Fee tuition.

I was also pleased to see SCoTENS and Universities Ireland referenced as positive forces for North South Collaboration. My Department funds both of these organisations, and their role has proved vital in the sharing of best practice, North and South, as the promotion of activities of mutual interest and benefit throughout the higher education system.

Reflective of this Government's commitment to maintain and enhance cross-border, the Taoiseach and I have collaborated closely through the Shared Island Unit on the North South Research Programme, in order to strengthen and formalise the commitment to research collaboration between Higher Education Institutes, which was mentioned in the report as being on “somewhat of an ad-hoc basis.” In March, we awarded a total of €37.3 million to fund collaborative research projects between academics and institutions in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

The report also referenced Further Education, and I am very committed to the development of stronger North-South links in Further Education and Training (FET), which 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 for 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 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.