Pádraig Rice (Cork South-Central, Social Democrats)
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835. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he is aware of the issues surrounding students’ eligibility for SUSI grants for a certain approved course under the part-time fee scheme (details supplied); if there are any plans to expand this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15113/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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In 2024 a new Part-Time Fee Scheme for Specified Undergraduate Courses was introduced to provide fee support to eligible part-time students attending specified publicly funded undergraduate courses leading to a major award. This included specified in person and blended/hybrid courses and its aim was to provide additional flexibility in respect of course provision to students who are socio-economically disadvantaged.

The Student Part-Time Fee Regulations for Specified Undergraduate Courses 2024 provided a list of approved part-time courses. If a student is attending one of the approved part-time courses they may be eligible for support and should check eligibility with SUSI who are the awarding Authority. Where a student is in doubt over whether the course they are attending is an approved course I would encourage them to check with the institution they are attending.

I am currently in the process of finalising the 2025 Part-Time Fee Scheme for Specified Undergraduate Courses and I expect to be in a position to approve the scheme very shortly and a list of approved courses will be published in the relevant regulations in due course.