Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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307. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will clarify whether students studying for a masters or postgraduate degree would qualify for the reduced fee contribution of €1,000. [6027/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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In Budget 2023, I gave priority to introducing a significant package of measures that will see students and families directly benefit and will help them tackle the challenges posed by the increased cost of living.

The agreed cost of living package provided for adjustments to the level of funding available through existing supports provided by my Department, as once off measures, for the 2022/23 academic year and include a reduction of €1,000 in the student contribution rate payable by students eligible for free tuition fees under the Departments Free Fees schemes.

The once off reduction of €1,000 relates specifically to the student contribution payable by students eligible for free tuition fees under my Department's free fees schemes in academic year 22/23. Students undertaking postgraduate study do not pay a student contribution towards free fees and pay tuition fees as determined by the institution attended. In this regard changes to the student contribution payable by free fees eligible students cannot apply to postgraduate student tuition fees.

In terms of other supports, the main support available to postgraduate students is the statutory based Student Grant Scheme. The Student Grant Scheme, administered by SUSI, provides grant assistance to students pursuing 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. Students can determine their eligibility at susi.ie/eligibility/income/.

As part of the cost of living measures in Budget 2023, postgraduate Students who meet the eligibility criteria for a Postgraduate Fee Contribution Grant received a once-off increase of €1,000 in the grant, which increased from €3,500 to €4,500. This measure excludes postgraduate students who receive the Special Rate of grant as they have their tuition fee contribution paid up to €6,270. For these postgraduate students, they received the once-off extra maintenance payment for all student maintenance grant recipients, paid in December 2022. In addition, the Postgraduate Fee Grant is set to increase by €500 on 2022 levels from €3,500 to €4,000 from the 2023/24 academic year.

Full time PhD students funded through an award by IRC or SFI received a once off increase in their stipend for 2022 of €500, and the same cohort will receive an increase of €500 to their stipend level for 2023.

I am conscious that not all students are eligible for free fees or student grants. For postgraduate students experiencing difficulties currently, there is a significant allocation to the Student Assistance Fund (SAF). The total allocation for the Student Assistance Fund for the 22/23 academic year will be over €20 million, which is the highest amount that has ever been provided under this fund. The SAF provides financial support to students who are experiencing financial difficulties while attending college and can provide assistance 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. Applications can be made under the SAF through the Access Office in a student’s third level institution.