Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

215. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 630 of 18 October 2022 and 511 of 4 October 2022, when students studying in Northern Ireland and Britain will be able to avail of the once-off €1,000 State financial support towards undergraduate fees; if his attention has been drawn to a commitment that An Taoiseach gave in Dáil Éireann that this issue would be reviewed; if his attention has been further drawn to reports that many of the students studying outside the State, despite excellent Leaving Certificate results, were unable to secure places on their courses of choice in colleges in Ireland; if he agrees that obstacles should not be put in the way of students studying in Northern Ireland, or likewise students from Northern Ireland studying in the State and that one should be encouraging the movement of students on an all-Ireland basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62821/22]

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

The main support available to assist students with the cost of higher education is the Student Grant Scheme. Students attending an approved undergraduate course in an EU Member State or the United Kingdom can apply for a maintenance grant provided they meet the terms and conditions of the Student Grant Scheme. There is also a special derogation contained within the Student Support Act 2011 which provides supports for postgraduate students attending approved courses in Northern Ireland.

The Budget 2023 cost of living measures include the provision of an additional once-off extra maintenance payment to all SUSI maintenance grant recipients during 2022, including to those attending an approved undergraduate course outside the State. The additional payment is being made this month. For students attending approved courses in Northern Ireland who are eligible for the Postgraduate Fee Contribution, there is a one-off increase in the value of the contribution from €3,500 to €4,500 for the academic year 2022/23, and SUSI will pay the higher amount directly to the student’s college.

In addition, Maintenance Grant rates will also be increasing effective from 1 January 2023, by 14% for those on the Special and Band 1 rate of grant and by 10% for all other Maintenance grant holders.

With regard to the once-off €1,000 state financial support towards the undergraduate student contribution fee, it is important to note that this relates only to the contribution payable by students eligible for free tuition fees under the Department’s Free Fees schemes. Courses provided outside the State are not approved courses under the Free Fees schemes and therefore the once off student contribution support of €1,000 in 2022/23 cannot apply to students undertaking study in Northern Ireland or other jurisdictions. The Deputy may wish to be aware that provision of supports to Irish citizens based on nationality alone – such as to Irish nationals studying outside this jurisdiction – with the exclusion of other EU nationals would be contrary to EU law.

The Deputy may also wish to note that nationals of the EU/EEA, UK and Swiss Federation studying in the State meet the specific nationality requirement of both my Department's Free Fees schemes and the Student Grant Scheme and therefore are eligible for supports under those schemes once they also meet the other scheme criteria.