Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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3419. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there is an opportunity, or any avenue, whereby a third level student can receive fee support to repeat a year, where the student suffered a severe mental health episode during the initial term and had to drop out; and if his Department can support a student in these circumstances where the issue is clearly medically certified. [43922/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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The decision on eligibility for student grant applications is a matter for the centralised grant awarding authority, SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland).

Generally speaking, a grant will not be paid to a student for a repeat period of study on the same course, or for a different course at the same level, irrespective of whether or not a grant was paid previously, as per Article 15 (6) and (7) of the Student Grant Scheme 2025. The objective of this policy is to help as many students as possible to obtain one qualification at each level of study.

Notwithstanding this, under Article 15(8) of the Student Grant Scheme 2025, the awarding authority SUSI has discretion to award a grant for a repeat period of study in exceptional circumstances, such as serious certified illness, which impacted on a student completing a particular period of study or undertaking exams in line with guidelines drawn up by the Minister. SUSI treats each application for repeat funding on a case-by-case basis and it is a matter for the individual student to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the awarding authority that there were exceptional circumstances. The Scheme does not specify what proof is required for exceptional circumstances. Documentation relating to the exceptional circumstances must be provided by the appellant.

Where a student considers they have been unjustly refused a student grant, they can appeal in the first instance to SUSI. If their appeal is turned down by SUSI they can further appeal to the independent Student Grant Appeals Board. The Board will use its discretion to determine whether the documentation provided is sufficient to support a repeat period due to exceptional circumstances under the terms of the Student Grant Scheme 2025.

Mental health and wellbeing in our third-level students is an ongoing priority for this Government and my Department and I remain committed to enhancing mental health supports across the sector.

My Department has allocated a total of nearly €32 million to support higher education institutions in meeting the mental health and wellbeing needs of students since 2020. I am pleased to indicate that from 2025, €5 million annually is being allocated on a recurrent, sustainable basis to mental health initiatives. As autonomous bodies, institutions can also allocate resources to this area from within their overall Exchequer and other funding sources.

The exact disbursement of the funding is a matter for each institution depending on their own prioritisation of needs. They have been advised to distribute it in support of specific student-facing areas, such as recruitment of additional Student Counsellors and assistant psychologists, head of service posts, training and awareness-raising. The majority of new posts created through this funding have been counsellors, reflecting the capacity building phase of the implementation of the Framework.

Any student who is experiencing mental health difficulties while at college may contact the student support services within the institution they are attending to access the supports that may be available.