Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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78. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will confirm that the 25 per cent increase recommended SUSI review does not take account of recent price increases; if his Department will have updated estimates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36792/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I believe the Deputy is referring to the recent review of the Student Grant Scheme and the findings that the cost of living for students has increased by over 25% between 2011 and 2021.

Addressing the costs of education for students and their families is a major priority for me. That is why I commissioned the review of the Student Grant Scheme, which was published on 4^thMay.

I have already taken a number of steps to alleviate financial pressures, which help to tackle issues raised in the Student Grant Review. These include:

-Increasing the grant payment for all those in receipt of a maintenance grant by €200;

-Increasing the qualifying thresholds for the standard rate of maintenance by €1,000;

-Changing the qualifying distance for the non-adjacent rate of grant to help students who live further away from college;

-This is in addition to measures I introduced in Budget 2021 i.e. Increasing the postgraduate fee grant from €2,000 to €3,500 and increasing the postgraduate fee grant income threshold.

I have committed to publishing an annual costs of education paper, which will set out the range of options to address costs, including changes to the Student Grant Scheme and student contributions. This will seek to inform decision-making at Budget time regarding the measures which can be taken to continue to support students and their families.