Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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643. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of a 1% increase in the SUSI maintenance grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19154/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Government recognises third level education can be a significant cost for families and students.

Following on from improvements made to the Student Grant Scheme in Budget 2022, a range of further measures were announced to enhance the scheme as part of Budget 2023.

Part of the 2023 budget saw all maintenance grants increased effective from January 2023 in order to provide further financial assistance to those students most in need. The special rate and Band 1 rate of maintenance increased by 14% and all other maintenance grant rates increased by 10%. Students in the current academic year saw their grant payments increase proportionately once this measure came effect from January 2023.

Improvements to the student grant scheme have been a priority for me since taking up my Ministerial appointment. In 2022, I published, for the first time, a cost of education paper which focused on Higher Education Supports and in particular student grant scheme changes. Many of the Budget 2023 measures implemented were as a result of the publication of that options paper which in turn fed into the estimates process.

It is my intention, this year, to again publish a cost of education paper which will set out options for further enhancement of student supports for consideration as part of the budgetary process in the Autumn.

To answer the Deputy's question, the estimated cost to the Exchequer of a 1% increase in the SUSI maintenance grant would be €1.85m.