Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

2080. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for clarification on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39312/23]

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

The Ukraine PLC Bursary Scheme was established by my Department in the 2022/23 academic year in response to the emergency situation in Ukraine. The Scheme, temporary in nature, provided access to further education in the academic year 2022/2023 and was aimed specifically at persons who:

• are living in Ireland
• have been granted temporary protection under section 60 of the International Protection Act 2015
• would like to participate in a SOLAS-approved full time post leaving certificate (“PLC”) course in their local Education and Training Board, and
• are not receiving the Back to Education Allowance from the Department of Social Protection

I have recently approved the continuation of the Ukraine PLC Bursary Scheme for the 2023/24 academic year. The Scheme is currently being finalised and is expected to open for applications shortly. All information, including the application form, will be uploaded to the gov.ie website.

This financial support will continue to be for a limited period of one year, in the form of a bursary of €6,115 which will be paid in monthly instalments to qualified persons who attend a SOLAS approved PLC course in the 2023/24 academic year.

The only change from the 2022 Scheme is that progression rules are being introduced in the 2023 Scheme in order to bring the Scheme more in line with the Student Grant Scheme. This is designed to ensure that students are eligible for financial support for a PLC course where they are progressing in their studies and have not previously received financial support for a course or part of a course at the same QQI level in the State. It also ensures that students who already hold a higher education qualification cannot access the 2023 Scheme, in line with the Student Grant Scheme.

The Scheme will be open to students starting year one a PLC course or progressing into the second year of a two year course.

The Scheme will continue to be administered by the awarding authority, Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) on behalf of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.