Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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114. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if consideration is currently being given with respect to part-time students and their access to the SUSI grant scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51223/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I have been consistent in my position that we need to develop our student support system over time to ensure that it supports more flexible forms of learning.

At present, the student grant scheme is targeted at full-time students in approved institutions. Courses that are part-time, less than two years in duration or leading to a special purpose or minor award, rather than a major award, are not approved for the purposes of the Student Grant Scheme. Online and Distance Learning Courses are regarded as part-time courses for student grant purposes and, as such, do not qualify for grant assistance.

I have recently published three significant policy documents which will shape the evolution of the student support scheme over the coming years.

The Review of the Student Grant Scheme contains a recommendation that the Government should consider extending supports to more flexible forms of learning including blended/online & part-time.

The National Access Plan, which I launched in August, contains five student centred goals, one of which is flexibility and a key objective in this regard is to better support priority group students who study on a flexible basis.

Finally Funding the Future sets out a multi-annual funding and reform framework for higher education, including the need to support more flexible forms of learning.

To take forward implementation of Funding the Future, I established a steering group which I chair alongside Professor Anne Looney and Professor Tom Collins. Two working groups have been established led by Professors Looney and Collins. The working group focused on skills, participation and cost is examining the potential to support students to avail of more flexible learning opportunities.

I will consider the product of this work, and also any engagement which will take place with the sector on managing delivery from an institutional perspective, in the context of future Estimates processes and alongside other priorities in the Funding the Future framework.