Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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561. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will double the funding for access to e-books through transformative agreements and increase funding for open education resources to alleviate the financial strain from e-book licensing on students and libraries as requested by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37922/24]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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My Department is aware of issues regarding ebook licencing and is engaging with the higher education sector and the Department of Rural and Community Development who have responsibility for public libraries. Those discussions are at an early stage.

In terms of supports for students, I am conscious of the need for the progressive implementation of measures to address cost as a barrier to attending higher education. I have recently published an options paper ( ) which sets out various possible measures to reduce the cost of attending higher education. I will have regard to these options when making proposals regarding student supports in the context of budget discussions.

As the Deputy will appreciate, at this time it is not possible to provide an indication of any measures that may be introduced in Budget 2025 or to anticipate the outcome of the wider consultation process on ebook licencing.

Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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562. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will continue annual funding for the student assistance fund at post-pandemic levels; to ensure eligibility for all students to address the hidden costs associated with education which is a key ask of an organisation (details supplied) in it's pre-Budget 2025 submission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37927/24]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The Student Assistance Fund is managed by the Higher Education Authority on behalf of my Department. The HEA allocates funding based on the academic year to each of the universities, Institutes of Technology, the Colleges of Education and a number of other higher education bodies. The core allocation for the SAF is €9.1 million per annum and increases were secured for this academic year 2023/24, which brought the fund to over €19M and supports circa 14,000 students.

In advance of Budget 2025, I recently published the annual options paper which set out various possible measures to address matters pertaining to the cost of education. This paper facilitated a public discussion on the various choices available to amend student supports including the Student Assistant Fund. These options will be considered as part of the deliberations around Budget 2025.

As the Deputy will appreciate, the Estimates process in ongoing. While I cannot pre-empt the budgetary process, addressing costs for families and learners and supporting disadvantaged students will be a priority for me in the Budget 2025 discussions.

Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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563. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will increase the holiday earnings eligible for deduction from reckonable income to €13,104; if he will amend the dependent brackets for SUSI to better support students which is a key ask of an organisation (details supplied) in it's pre-Budget 2025 submission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37928/24]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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Awaiting reply from Department.

Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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564. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will introduce a minimum stipend of €25,000 for all postgraduate researchers; to cap postgraduate fees at €3,000 to address the financial strain on postgraduate students which is a key ask of an organisation (details supplied) in it's pre-Budget 2025 submission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37929/24]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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Awaiting reply from Department.