Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Under the terms of the Student Grant Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to eligible students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means.

The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the centralised student grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) to determine.

Irish students who choose to study in Northern Ireland are, per the Memorandum of Understanding on Education in the Common Travel Area, entitled to access to education at no less equitable terms than UK citizens studying in Northern Ireland. They would be eligible for home fees and have access to the Northern Irish Student Finance system. They would also be eligible to apply for SUSI maintenance grants.

The Student Grant Scheme provides maintenance grants to eligible undergraduate students pursuing approved courses in other EU Member States. Student grant legislation was amended in 2020 to retain the status quo to allow maintenance grant funding for eligible students attending an approved undergraduate course in Northern Ireland / the UK to continue post-Brexit.

The Student Grant Scheme does not and never has, extended to the payment of tuition fees to institutions outside the State, other than the exceptional provision in respect of postgraduate courses in four approved institutions in Northern Ireland. This provision is consistent with the principles of the Good Friday agreement and is intended to promote greater tolerance and understanding between both jurisdictions.

The Scheme does not extend to PLC courses or provide for maintenance grants for postgraduate courses pursued outside of the State.

Funding under the Free Fees Initiative is only available in respect of approved courses within the State.

Students seeking to pursue their studies in the UK are advised to contact the Student Finance agency in each of the Devolved Administration in the UK, as each jurisdiction may have variations in eligibility criteria. Students may also wish to contact the relevant Further or Higher Education Institution in the UK for advice on the type and range of supports that may be available in any specific college.

As the Deputy will be aware, I am committed to increasing cross-Border student mobility in tertiary education. I spoke recently at the launch of the ESRI Report on North-South student mobility, and emphasised the importance I attach to this very issue. One of the key issues identified in that report was the CAO points assigned to A Levels, and how the current weighting restricted students from Northern Ireland to apply for certain courses in Irish Universities. I am delighted that this is now addressed following a review conducted by Universities Ireland. It is now possible for A-Level candidates to use the best three A Levels, in combination with a fourth A Level or an AS Level or an extended project. The report’s recommendation must now be accepted by each University’s Academic Council, and I hope that this revision will be in place for the students looking to start their studies in September 2024.

Furthermore, I have stated on a number of occasions my regret that the UK have opted out of the Erasmus programme, which has impacted significantly on students from Northern Ireland. I have provided funding of almost €2.3 million which will enable them to continue to avail of mobilities, post Brexit. While this will provide opportunities to travel across Europe and elsewhere, it is important to state that an estimated 20% of mobilities undertaken by students from Northern Ireland, are internships in workplaces in mainly Dublin and Cork.