Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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462. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the measures introduced to support students and parents with the cost of college fees since 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7277/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I recognise that third level education can be a significant cost for families and students.

The main financial support available to students is the Student Grant Scheme. The means-tested Scheme is administered by SUSI on behalf of my Department.

Under the Scheme, students can apply for supports in respect of fees and maintenance.

In response to the ongoing cost of living pressures, I secured a significant cost-of-living package for third level students in Budget 2023. These measures already took effect in 2022 and in respect of fees include:

- All higher education students who are eligible for the fees initiative benefitted from a once off €1,000 reduction in the Student Contribution rate for the 2022/2023 academic year, reducing the contribution from €3,000 to €2,000. For those on the 50% Student Contribution rate, as paid by SUSI, students benefitted proportionally and 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.

- 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.

Beyond the cost of living measures outlined above, I have announced further improvements in relation to fee grants for the 2023/2024 academic year, including:

- Two changes to the income thresholds for the student contribution grant 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.

The Budget 2023 package also included a range of other measures to improve maintenance grants and amend the eligibility criteria in order to bring more students into the Scheme, including:

- 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.

- 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.

- 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.

These significant measures will see students have more money in their pockets to help them meet the cost of going to college.

Furthermore, I have provided €3m in funding for mental health and wellbeing initiatives for the 2023/24 academic year and 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.