Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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563. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the measures that will be taken to ensure that there is adequate financial support for students commencing third level education in 2023. [49797/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Student Grant Scheme, administered by SUSI, provides grant assistance to students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means.

Following on from improvements I made to the Student Grant Scheme in Budget 2022, I announced a range of further measures to enhance the scheme as part of Budget 2023.

Some of these cost-of-living measures will already commence in 2022.

As part of the Government's cost of living measures, every SUSI maintenance grant recipient will receive an additional once-off extra maintenance payment to be paid by the end of December 2022. This includes PLC, undergraduate and Postgraduate Students who are in receipt of the Special Rate of Grant.

All higher education students who are eligible for the fees initiative will benefit from a once off reduction in the Student Contribution rate of €1,000 for the 2022/2023 academic year. For those on the 50% Student Contribution rate this reduction will mean that the balance the student pays to their Higher Education Institution will be €1,000 (a reduction of €500) for the current academic year.

PhD students funded by the SFI and the IRC will also benefit from a once off payment of €500 in the current academic year.

Post Graduate Students who meet the eligibility criteria for a Postgraduate Fee Contribution Grant will benefit from a once off increase in this grant of €1,000 from €3,500 to €4,500.

In addition, I am increasing all maintenance grants effective from January 2023 in order to provide further financial assistance to those students most in need. The special rate and Band 1 rate of maintenance will increase by 14% and all other maintenance grant rates will increase by 10%. Students in the current academic year will see their grant payments increase proportionately once this measure comes into effect from January 2023.

Further measures will be introduced from September 2023 that will increase the level of support available to students attending third level. Those who are assessed as having a reckonable income of between €55,240 and €62,000 will be eligible for a 50% student contribution grant and those who are assessed as having a reckonable income of between €62,000 and €100,000 will be eligible for a grant of €500 towards their student contribution fees. This change should lead to an estimated 42,500 - 50,000 families receiving support under the student grant scheme for the first time. PhD students who receive an IRC or SFI award will see a €500 increase to the stipend baseline in 2023 from €18,500 to €19,000.

These significant measures will see students have more money in their pockets to help them tackle the challenges posed by the cost-of-living crisis.

Furthermore, I have secured a further €8 million of funding for the Student Assistance Fund for the current academic year. Students in third-level institutions experiencing exceptional financial need can apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund (SAF). The Fund provides financial support to students who are experiencing financial difficulties while attending college. Students can apply for SAF to help with either temporary or ongoing financial difficulties and can be assisted towards their rent, childcare costs, transport costs and books/class materials. It is open to both full and part-time registered students on courses of not less than one year's duration leading to an undergraduate or postgraduate qualification. It is designed to provide a source of financial support in addition to a SUSI grant.

Applications can be made under the Student Assistance Fund (SAF) through the Access Office in the third level institution you are attending. They will have more information concerning their own HEI. More information on this fund and other supports are also available at www.studentfinance.ie.