Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

174. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of opening the Student Access Fund to non-domestic students. [31156/22]

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

The Student Assistance Fund (SAF) provides financial assistance to students experiencing financial difficulties while attending higher education.  Students can be assisted towards costs such as rent, childcare, transport and costs associated with the provision of books/class materials. 

Students who are non-EU, including UK nationals, but who are eligible for free or reduced fees in line with the criteria for the Free Fees Initiative, may be considered for the Student Assistance Fund subject to meeting other relevant criteria.

International/non-EU fee paying students who pay the full international rate of fee are not eligible for funding under the Student Assistance Fund. Higher Education Institutions are advised to ring-fence funding from non-EU fee income to provide for any emergency financial requirements arising for these international students.

However, if international non-EU students were eligible for funding under the Student Assistance Fund, the estimated additional costs would be in the ranges below:

- If 5,000 non-EU students were eligible for the SAF, the cost would be approximately €3.25 million;

- If 10,000 non-EU students were eligible for the SAF, the cost would be approximately €7.5 million;

- If 15,000 non-EU students were eligible for the SAF, the cost would be approximately €10.75 million;

- If 20,000 non-EU students were eligible for the SAF, the cost would be approximately €13 million.

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

175. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost to the Exchequer of increasing the SUSI fee cover for post-graduate student to cover the full cost of fees for eligible students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31260/22]

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

The main support available to assist postgraduate students with the cost of attending higher education is the Student Grant Scheme. In line with the commitment in the Programme for Government, from September 2021 the postgraduate fee contribution grant increased from €2,000 to €3,500, and the fee grant income threshold increased from €31,500 to €54,240. This income threshold will again increase for the 2022/23 post graduate cohort to €55,240.

Postgraduate students who meet all of the qualifying conditions for the special rate of grant under the Student Grant Scheme are also eligible for a maintenance grant of up to €6,115 and qualifying postgraduate students may also be eligible to have their tuition fees paid up to a maximum fee limit of €6,270.

Higher Education Institutions are autonomous bodies and are responsible for their own day-to-day management and operational affairs, including the management of academic affairs. They retain the right to determine their own policies and procedures. The total level of fees payable to the institution in the case of postgraduate student fees are therefore solely a matter for the relevant institution to determine in line with its own criteria.

An estimated cost of the State fully supporting all such fees is therefore not available as the rate of fee for postgraduate studies differs by institution and course.

However, for the 2021/22 academic year, 2559 post graduate students received a tuition grant of €3,500 and if this were to be increased up to the maximum post graduate fee contribution of €6,270, the cost would be approximately €7.1m. This estimate does not include the cost of any new students to the scheme that may apply if the grant amount increased.