Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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461. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the funding which has been introduced to help students deal with the cost-of-living since 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7276/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Government recognises third level education can be a significant cost for families and students.

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

In response to the ongoing cost of living pressures, I secured a significant cost-of-living package for third level students. These measures already took effect in 2022 and include:

- All higher education students who are eligible for the fees initiative have benefitted from a once off reduction in the Student Contribution rate of €1,000 for the 2022/2023 academic year.

- A once-off additional maintenance payment was paid on the 16th December 2022. This payment was made to all students who are in receipt of a maintenance grant payment included PLC students, undergraduate students and postgraduate students who are in receipt of the Special Rate of Grant.

- PhD students funded by the SFI and the IRC are also benefitting 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 are benefitting from a once off increase in their grant of €1,000 from €3,500 to €4,500.

- A once-off reduction of up to 33% in the contribution fee for apprentices

In addition, all maintenance grants increased 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 increased by 14% and all other maintenance grant rates increased by 10%. Students in the current academic year saw their grant payments increase proportionately once this measure came effect from January 2023. It is important to note that the increase which is effective from January 2023 was not backdated to the start of the 2022/23 academic year.

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.

The Budget 2023 package also included other measures that will offer relief to students for the 2023/2024 academic year include:

- Two changes to the income thresholds for the student contribution grant for the academic year 2023/24 which will reduce the cost of education for students and families. I have increased the income limit from €55,240 to €62,000 for students to avail of the 50% Undergraduate Student Contribution and introduced a new Student Contribution grant to the value of €500 for qualifying families on incomes earning between €62,000 and €100,000. It is estimated that between 42,500 and 50,000 families could receive support under the Student Grant Scheme in 2023 for the first time as a result of these measures.

- An increase in the Post Graduate fee Contribution Grant by €500 on 2022 levels from €3,500 to €4,000 from September 2023; This measure will benefit Post Graduate Students who are eligible for a Postgraduate Fee Contribution towards the cost of their Tuition Fees. That means postgraduate students whose reckonable income is up to €55,240 and who are not eligible for the special rate of grant will benefit.

- A €500 increase to the stipend baseline in 2023 for PhD students who receive an IRC or SFI award.

- A change to the eligibility criteria for “second chance” mature students as defined in the Student Grant Scheme reducing the period for a full break in studies from 5 to 3 years;

- Increase in the deduction allowable for student earnings outside of term time from €4,500 to €6,552 for academic year 2023/2024.

- Exclusion of rental income up to €14,000 declared to Revenue under the Government’s rent-a-room relief scheme when calculating reckonable income under the Student Grant Scheme.

- €3m in funding for mental health and wellbeing initiatives for the 2023/24 academic year.

Furthermore, I have recently announced €4.3 million is to be allocated to SAF to assist students with the cost of living. This was in addition to the €8m that was allocated in Budget 2023. This brings the total allocation for the Student Assistance Fund for the 22/23 academic year to over €20 million, which is the highest amount that has ever been provided under this fund.