Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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234. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students receiving SUSI grants in County Kildare in each year from 2022 to 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57479/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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The main support available to assist students with the cost of attending higher education is the Student Grant Scheme. Under the Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to eligible students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means.

A Part-Time Fee Scheme for Specified Undergraduate Courses which commenced in September 2024 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 and its aim is to provide additional flexibility in respect of course provision to students who are socio-economically disadvantaged.

The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for SUSI to determine.

The following table shows the number of students with a home address in Co. Kildare who were awarded and paid a grant in the 2022/23, 2023/24, 2024/25 and 2025/26 academic years as at the 17th October 2025.

** The figure of 1,980 are students that have been paid a maintenance grant as of 17th October. In addition, 1,475 students have been awarded a Fees Only grant. Those students remain at awarded status until SUSI complete the reconciliation of fees in Spring 2026.