Donna McGettigan (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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2517. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the actions that have been taken to alleviate the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on students; if additional financial supports or targeted grant increases are being considered for the upcoming academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19508/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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This Government, through successive budgets, has sought to reduce the cost of higher education including through improvements to the student grant scheme.

For the first time ever, a new part-time fee grant scheme came into effect in September 2024 for specified undergraduate courses. This new scheme has already opened the doors of higher education to many groups who cannot participate in full time programmes. The number of eligible part time courses will increase from 62 in the 2024/2025 academic year to 111 in the 2025/2026 academic year.

In Budget 2025, I have also ensured that measures to support students have formed a core part of the Government's overall response to cost of living issues.

The following once-off measures are benefitting current students:-

• A reduction in the student contribution fee by €1,000 which is estimated to benefit c.103,000 higher education students who are eligible for the free fees initiative.
• The postgraduate fee contribution grant from €4,000 to €5,000 for c. 2000 students.
• A once off 33% reduction to the student fee for 14,000 apprentices attending higher education institutes.
• A once off additional €10 million for the Student Assistance Fund.

• I am increasing the special rate of maintenance threshold from €26,200 to €27,400 in line with Social Welfare increases.
• I am increasing all other maintenance and student contribution grant thresholds by 15%.
• I am also increasing the postgraduate fee contribution threshold and the part-time fee scheme threshold to match the new 100% Student Contribution threshold which will now be €64,315.

Other improvements to the Student Grant Scheme for the 2025/2026 academic year include:-

• Allowing certain cohorts of people to apply for the grant by extending the list of approved immigration permissions;
• Ensuring that the first €5000 of any scholarship received by a student will not be included as income in the grant means test; and,
• An increase to the income deduction for student earnings outside of term time from €7,925 to €8,424.

Budget 2025 also increased the Rent Tax Credit from €750 to €1,000 for students living in purpose-built student accommodation, private rentals, digs, or rent a room arrangements.

For three years in a row my Department has published an Annual Options Paper outlining measures to help reduce the cost of education for students and families across Further and Higher Education, Research and Apprenticeships. The paper also provided an overview of ongoing work in relation to Student Accommodation. Later this year, my Department will again publish an options paper which will set out options for further enhancement of student supports for consideration as part of the budgetary process.