John Connolly (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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2565. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason part-time students attending Kings Inn are not currently eligible to apply for a SUSI grant; whether consideration can be given in the context of the student grant scheme 2025 to allow such part-time students to apply for a SUSI grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20230/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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The main form of financial assistance available to higher education students is the Student Grant Scheme which is administered by SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland). Part-Time, Online and Distance Learning Courses, do not qualify for grant assistance under the Student Grant Scheme.

However, my Department does recognise the need to offer support for more flexible forms of learning and last year, for the first time, a new Part-Time Fee Scheme for Specified Undergraduate Courses was introduced. This Scheme provides fee support to eligible part-time students attending specified publicly funded undergraduate courses leading to a major award. This includes specified in person and blended/hybrid courses. Its aim is to provide additional flexibility in respect of course provision to students who are socio-economically disadvantaged.

The 2025 Part-Time Fee Scheme for Specified Undergraduate Courses has been finalised and opened for applications on 03 April 2025. The 2025 Scheme has 111 approved courses which increased from 62 approved courses in 2024.

Any future expansion of the parameters of the scheme can only be considered in the context of the budgetary allocation, having regard to overall resource constraints and other competing demands in the further and higher education sector.