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

I have been advised by my officials that the student referred to by the Deputy in Question No. 594 of 10th October 2023 was awarded a Postgraduate Fee Contribution of €4,000 on the 6th June 2023 by the awarding authority.

The Student Grant Scheme makes provision for combining periods of Pandemic Unemployment Payment, Jobseeker's Allowance, Jobseeker's Benefit and other eligible payments for the purposes of meeting the 391 days eligibility requirement for the special rate of grant. Schedule 2 of the scheme states that “The Department of Social Protection Illness Benefit or COVID-19 Enhanced Illness Benefit or COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment or Maternity Benefit can also be used to combine periods of Jobseeker's Allowance and Jobseeker's Benefit provided a period of Jobseeker's Allowance or Jobseeker’s Benefit comes directly before and directly after the period of Illness Benefit or COVID-19 Enhanced Illness Benefit or COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment”.

The applicant’s income was under the Special Rate threshold of €25,000. However, whilst the applicant’s father was in receipt of an eligible Special Rate payment on 31st December 2022 (Jobseeker’s Allowance) they did not meet the required 391 number of days under the terms of the scheme, having held the payment for 363 days. The period in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) could not be considered as there was no period in receipt of Jobseeker’s directly before the PUP. The Student Grant Appeals Board heard an appeal from this student on the 8th August 2023 and upheld the decision of the SUSI Appeals Officer. The student has now exhausted the appeals process.

However, a very important feature of the scheme is the change of circumstances provision. Article 32 of the Student Grant Scheme 2023 provides for a review of eligibility for the award of a grant in the event of a change of circumstances in the academic year.

Where a student experiences a change of circumstances during the course of their studies, he/she may apply to SUSI to have his/her application re-assessed at helpdesk@SUSI.ie quoting Internal Review in the Subject line. Should the student referred to by the Deputy have new information relevant to their application, they can apply to SUSI for a review of their application under this provision.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1414. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to review correspondence (details supplied); to outline any financial supports available to the student in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48194/23]

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

While I cannot comment on an individual case, I can advise the Deputy that there are a broad range of measures intended to support and facilitate apprentice progression to a successful conclusion. These are broad measures available to all, as well as some targeted interventions intended to provide additional support to groups who may experience particular barriers and challenges in accessing and completing their apprenticeship programmes.

Apprentices are primarily employees and all of the 73 available apprenticeships are undertaken under a contract of employment. For the majority of apprenticeships, the rate of pay is agreed between the apprentice and the employer with the employer paying the apprentice during both on-the-job and off-the-job training elements of the apprenticeship.

While attending off-the-job training, craft apprentices are paid a training allowance appropriate to their training phase. In addition to training allowances, craft apprentices attending phases of off-the-job training in an Education and Training Board (ETB) training centre, Institute of Technology, or a Technological University are entitled to make an application for either travel or accommodation allowances for the duration of the period of off-the-job training.

Through Budget 2024, I am providing increased funding of €400,000 for a bursary for apprentices from under-represented groups. It is proposed that the funding will support apprenticeship learners in all ETBs and at TUS Limerick and Athlone, MTU, ATU Galway and TU Dublin.

More broadly, I recognise the impact that the cost of living is having on our apprentices. This is why I am particularly targeting funding of €3.8m to enable a one-third reduction in the Apprenticeship Student Contribution Fee for those attending higher education institutions in the 2023/24 academic year. This is targeted at relieving the immediate pressure associated with making this payment. It is anticipated that circa 11,000 apprentices in higher education will benefit from this measure.

As employees, apprentices who find themselves in difficulty are correspondingly entitled to access general employment supports through the social welfare system. I would also advise any apprentice to discuss the matter with their Authorised Officer who may be in a position to provide guidance.