Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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My Department is strongly committed to supporting the health and welfare of the population through the provision of graduates with the key skills to be effective in the health workforce, and to support a range of teams in our health services

The part time scheme announced by the Minister is a pilot scheme which is aimed at eligible undergraduates in the first instance. It will need to be monitored and evaluated before any further expansion to include Postgraduate students could be considered.

The Deputy may be aware that funding for postgraduate students is a priority of mine and I have made significant improvements in the past number of years, and most recently in Budget 2024, when I announced a range of measures.

Postgraduate students will see an immediate €1,000 increase in the Postgraduate Fee Contribution Grant from €4,000 to €5,000 as part of the Budget cost of living measures. Also, there will be full restoration of student maintenance grants for postgraduates from September 2024 for the first time since the financial crash, which is being introduced on a pro-rata basis effective from January 2024.