504. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on whether a statutory instrument can be altered to include Ballyfermot College of Further Education as an approved provider of third level programmes for SUSI maintenance grant purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23936/24]

Section 7 of the Student Support Act 2011 outlines the position with regard to approved institutions for the purposes of the Student Grant Scheme. Ballyfermot College of Further Education is approved Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) centre which is managed and funded by City of Dublin ETB. As such, it is comprehended within Section 7(1)(d) of the Act as an “education institution in the State in receipt of grants out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas for the provision of post-leaving certificate courses”. Further education centres are not designated as approved third level institutions for the purposes of providing higher education awards under the Student Grant Scheme.