“On 12 October, the announcement of Budget 2022 evoked mixed reactions from third-level stakeholders. It was announced that €3.7bn would be allocated to students, universities and young people in next year’s Budget …” (more)
[Bonnie Gill, Trinity News, 20 October]
“At lunchtime today, the main quad at TU Dublin’s new Grangegorman campus was buzzing with students. A welcome sight given the devastation of campus life last year. However, a lecturer who works at the college told me that the college is concerned that not all students are throwing themselves back into college life as they once would have …” (more)
[Emma O Kelly, RTÉ News, 14 October]
“The number of third level students being deemed eligible to receive State SUSI grants continues to fall, while numbers attending college continue to rise, data received by RTÉ News shows …” (more)
[RTÉ News, 14 October]
“The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) and the Irish Universities Association (IUA) have expressed disappointment Budget 2022, arguing that more needs to be done for the third-level sector …” (more)
[Mairead Maguire, University Times, 12 October]
“Student grants will rise by a flat rate €200 from next September. The ‘across the board’ increase will benefit about 62,000 students who receive maintenance support to help with cost-of-living increases …” (more)
[Katherine Donnelly, Independent, 12 October]
“Sinn Féin spokesperson on Further and Higher Education, Rose Conway-Walsh TD, has brought forward proposals in her party’s alternative budget that include reducing fees for all and extending SUSI support to 15,000 additional students while also tackling the issue of core funding. Teachta Conway-Walsh said …” (more)
[Sinn Féin, 8 October]
“The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) is to call for the student contribution charge to be reduced by €1,000 in its submission to the government ahead of Budget 2022 …” (more)
[Mairead Maguire, University Times, 5 October]
“The cost of college is frequently a barrier to accessing education for many students, and with the first installment of the SUSI grant not set to be paid until October 8th, it is going to be particularly hard this year for many to make ends meet. This week, The University Times spoke to recipients of the grant about the later-than-normal first payment …” (more)
[University Times, 6 September]
“Students in receipt of the SUSI grant have said they will struggle financially due to the late payment of the first instalment on October 8th. The date of the first instalment, SUSI said, is due to later registration dates in colleges as a result of the late issuing of CAO offers …” (more)
[Mairead Maguire, University Times, 2 September]
“Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris, today (Friday, 27 August 2021) announced further improvements to the Student Support Scheme for eligible students in the international protection system to access third-level education for 2021/2022 …” (more)
[DFHERIS, 27 August]
“Our Social Affairs Correspondent Ailbhe Conneely has this report on calls for the Government to widen access to the Student Universal Support Scheme …” (podcast)
[RTÉ – News at One, 25 August]
“Sir, – Peter is a bright lad from Kerry. His heart is set on studying veterinary medicine in UCD, but he didn’t list that course on his CAO application form. Peter’s family can’t come up with €14,000 per annum to cover Peter’s college costs. His parents earn a combined gross annual income of €40,000, which makes Peter ineligible for a college grant …” (more)
[Billy Ryle, Irish Times, 25 August]
“The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) has said that SUSI recipients will struggle financially at the start of term due to the late date of the first payment of the grant. Recipients will not receive the first instalment of the maintenance grant until October 8th – several weeks after college begins for most …” (more)
[Mairead Maguire, University Times, 24 August]
“The breakdown of the cost of college will surprise few in third level. But at this time of year, when the cost of going back to school is all over the media, students deserve a look in, writes the Editorial Board. Going to college is now simply accepted as being expensive in Ireland. It shouldn’t be …” (more)
[University Times, 22 August]
“Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the annual spend on the student maintenance grant; the estimated cost of increasing all rates by 10%; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)
[Dáil written answers, 13 July]
“After months of fighting for the exclusion of PUP payments in assessment for SUSI, Sinn Féin spokesperson on Further and Higher Education, Rose Conway-Walsh TD, has received assurance that no students will be denied or pushed out of SUSI for accepting the PUP. The Minister has confirmed on the floor of the Dáil that all students have the right to reapply based on the 2021 year and have PUP earned by a student excluded from the calculation. Teachta Conway-Walsh said …” (more)
[Sinn Féin, 13 July]
“Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the percentage of SUSI funding that goes towards covering the student contribution charge in each year since 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)
[Dáil written answers, 29 April]
“Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider amending the Student Support Act 2011 to support Irish students studying within the EU who would qualify for SUSI support if they were studying in Ireland; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that third-level education fees are lower in most other EU states than they are in Ireland; the estimated cost of such a change; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)
[Dáil written answers, 28 April]
“The Society of St Vincent de Paul have joined calls by the Union of Students in Ireland to reform the SUSI grant scheme ahead of a full return to college. The funding model has been described as ‘not fit for purpose’ and no longer in line with the cost of living …” (more)
[Teresa Mannion, RTÉ News, 23 April]
“Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the data provided on foot of a recent freedom of information request (details supplied); the analysis his Department has carried out across third-level institutions which fall under the responsibility of his Department into the fining of students for the late payment of registration fees; if this issue will be examined as part of the ongoing review of Higher Education Authority legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)
[Dail written answers, 1 April]
