Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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1292. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider adding a university (details supplied) for the purpose of SUSI grant aid and other open colleges which make QQI awards and certificates in many subjects in order to increase access to higher education and allow persons upskill during the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18802/21]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Student Grant Scheme, administered by SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland), provides grant assistance to 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.

Approved courses for the Student Grant Scheme are prescribed in the relevant Student Support Regulations and in the Student Support Act 2011. The Regulations prescribe that an approved undergraduate course is a full-time course leading to a major higher education and training award which takes a minimum of two years to complete in an approved institution. An approved postgraduate course is a full-time course of not less than one year duration pursued in an approved institution listed in the Regulations.

As the college referred to in the details supplied, is a private educational institution, it does not come under the remit of the Student Grant Scheme. In the context of limited public funding and competing priorities, student support funding is currently targeted at full-time students undertaking study in approved publicly funded institutions. However it is open to higher education institutions that operate on a 'for profit' basis to use their own resources to provide financial supports to any of their students that they consider to be in particular need.

As part of the review of the Student Grant Scheme, the definition of an approved course for student grant purposes is currently being examined. A Report is due to come before me in Summer 2021. You will appreciate that at this point I cannot pre-empt the outcome of the review or indicate when any proposed changes will come into effect. Further information regarding the review of the Student Grant Scheme is available from: .

Apart from the Student Grant Scheme, students in third-level institutions experiencing exceptional financial need can apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund. This Fund assists students, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances. Information on the fund is available through the Access Office in the third level institution attended, and is administered on a confidential discretionary basis.

In addition, tax relief at the standard rate of tax may also be available in respect of tuition fees paid for approved courses at approved colleges of higher education. Further information on this tax relief is available from a student's local Tax Office or from the Revenue Commissioners website, .

In the context of a person re-educating or upskilling, Springboard+ is a specific initiative that strategically targets funding of free part-time higher education courses to enable unemployed people, returners (formerly referred to as homemakers) and those in employment to upskill or reskill in areas where there are identified labour market skills shortages or employment opportunities. The courses, which are at Level 6 (Higher Certificate) to Level 9 (Master's Degree) on the National Framework of Qualifications, are being delivered in public and private higher education providers around the country. Further information may be obtained from the website .