€4.3 million to assist Third Level students with the cost of living has been announced to assist students with books and class materials, rent, childcare, transport among other things.
The HEA will distribute funding of over €4.3 million to the HEIs in early 2023.
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research and Innovation, Simon Harris, said:
“The Student Assistance Fund is an invaluable resource for third level students who are finding it difficult to make ends meet.
“The fund is there to assist with additional costs they may face over the coming months. It is completely confidential and accessible through the Access Offices in publically funded higher education colleges.”
The total allocation for the Student Assistance Fund for the 22/23 academic year will be over €20 million, which is the highest amount that has ever been provided under this fund.
Minister Harris added:
“Budget 2023 made real and meaningful changes for students. We reduced the registration fee by €1,000 and increased the maintenance grant. The renters credit and the extension of free public transport are also tangible changes which will make important changes for students. This is a further extension of that support.
“I really want to thank my own department and the Higher Education Authority for responding to the challenges facing students.”
In addition, Minister Harris also confirmed students receiving the once off Tier 3 – 1916 Path 2 bursary will have their bursary increased by €500 for the 2022/2023 academic year.
The objective of the 1916 Bursary Fund, provided under strand 2 of PATH, is to support students who are most socio-economically disadvantaged and who are from communities significantly underrepresented in the student body participate and succeed in higher education.
Target groups include those students from socio-economically disadvantaged communities who have low levels of participation in higher education, students who are members of the Traveller and Roma communities, students with a disability, mature students and further education award holders.
Based on provisional data, the number of students affected by this change will be approximately 820, therefore, the cost of this increase will be approximately €410,000.
€4.3 Million to Assist Third Level Students with the Cost of Living
TU of the Shannon €283,249
Dublin City University €280,319
Dundalk Institute of Technology €110,788
Atlantic TU Galway €154,119
IADT €39,954
South East TU Carlow €202,703
Atlantic TU Sligo €143,327
Atlantic TU Donegal €151,041
Marino Institute of Education €23,070
Mary Immaculate College €93,653
Maynooth University €270,481
National College of Art and Design €22,196
National College of Ireland €43,639
University of Galway €298,399
Pontifical College €4,706
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland €5,797
St Angela’s College €25,646
Trinity College Dublin €243,021
TU Dublin €512,340
University College Cork €322,457
University College Dublin €359,137
University of Limerick €276,549
South East TU Waterford €232,707
Munster TU €253,764
Total €4,353,062
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