Donna McGettigan (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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438. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills what the increase cost of the maintenance grant for post graduate students was, which was effective from January 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28394/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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With effect from September 2024, all student maintenance grants for eligible post-graduate students were fully restored for the first time since the financial crash. Eligible students also received a pro-rata increase effective from January 2024. The annual rates of maintenance grants payable and the income thresholds applied are now the same for undergraduate and postgraduate students.

As of 26th May 2025, the cost of reintroducing the standard rate of maintenance grant to postgraduate students is circa €6.9m.

This figure does not include the Special Rate of maintenance grant which was available to eligible postgraduate students prior to January 2024.

Postgraduate students who meet all the conditions of the Student Grant Scheme may become eligible for the following supports:

• A student maintenance grant.
• A postgraduate fee contribution of €4,000 or a postgraduate fee grant, up to a maximum of €6,270 towards the cost of fees is available. To be eligible for the fee contribution grant of up to €4,000 plus a maintenance grant, the total household income must be within the income thresholds.(www.susi.ie/eligibility-criteria/income/postgraduate-income-thresholds-and-grant-award-rates/#d.en.14684)