Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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1969.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider changing the means test for SUSI grants, in order that essential outgoings such as health insurance and mortgages are taken into consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter.[34348/24]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The Student Grant Scheme, administered by SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland), provides grant assistance to 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 means test arrangements of the Student Grant Scheme are applied nationally. In the case of both employed and self-employed applicants, gross income, before deduction of income tax or universal social charge, is assessed with certain specified social welfare and health service executive payments excluded.

Student grant applications are means tested on gross income from all sources earned inside and outside the State within a specified reference period. Therefore, all income is assessed from the same starting point, eliminating any distortion which might arise from different spending decisions if outgoings were also to be assessed.

Apart from the Student Grant Scheme, students in third-level institutions experiencing exceptional financial need can apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund. This Fund assists students, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances. Information on the fund is available through the Access Officer in the third level institution attended. The fund is administered on a confidential, discretionary basis.

In addition, tax relief at the standard rate of tax may be claimed in respect of tuition fees paid for approved courses at approved colleges of higher education. Further information on this tax relief is available from a student's local Tax Office or from the Revenue Commissioners website,www.revenue.ie.

Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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1970.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there are any funding streams open to a student (detail supplied) who does not qualify for a SUSI grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter.[34366/24]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The main support available to assist students with the cost of attending higher education is the Student Grant Scheme. Under the 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 definition of an approved institution is set out in Section 7 of the Student Support Act 2011 and Regulation 3 of the Student Support Regulations 2024. Private colleges operated on a for-profit basis, such as the Portobello College, are not listed as approved institutions for student grant purposes. A student attending a private college which is not listed in the Student Support Regulations 2024 would not be eligible for funding under the Student Grant Scheme 2024.

However, it is open to higher education institutions that operate on a 'for profit' basis to use their own resources to provide financial supports to any of their students that they consider to be in particular need.

I would advise any student to make direct contact with the institution that they plan to attend to consider what supports may be available.

In addition, tax relief at the standard rate of tax may be claimed in respect of tuition fees paid for approved courses at approved colleges of higher education. Further information on this tax relief is available from a student's local Tax Office or from the Revenue Commissioners website, www.revenue.ie.