Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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56. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the benefits that will accrue to students this autumn as a result of changes to the adjacent and non-adjacent grant system rules; the breakdown of the number of students impacted by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36719/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The student maintenance grant is payable at either the adjacent or non-adjacent rate. The distance to be measured is the shortest non-tolled most direct route from the student’s residence to the institution attended. In Budget 2022, I reduced the distance criterion for students to qualify for the non-adjacent rate of grant from 45km to 30km, effective from the start of the 2022/23 academic year. The adjacent rate of maintenance grant is payable in all other cases.

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 and have been a priority for me since taking up my Ministerial appointment. At this time, it is not possible to determine the breakdown of students per county as the application process is still open.

The attached table shows the improvements I have made in the rates of maintenance grant from September 2022.