239. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department has data on the average distance travelled by students to their further or higher educational institution. [46115/26]

The results of the 2023 HEA Student Accommodation Survey, (which was issued to students in the 16 HEA-funded HEIs), provides an indication of the distance travelled by students to their Higher Education Institution (HEI).

The survey was responded to by 22,801 students, representing approximately 9% of the total student population of HEA-funded HEIs for the academic year 2023/24. 54% of those who responded to the survey were 1st and 2nd year undergraduate students and the results therefore may be more reflective of this group’s experience.

Students were asked in the survey ‘‘How far is your term time accommodation from your HEI?’’ A breakdown of responses is as follows:

Respondents were asked to select answers from predefined distance ranges rather than providing a specific distance, therefore it is not possible to calculate an accurate average travel distance. The responses indicate that a large proportion, 48%, of students travel a short distance to their HEI daily, with 28% travelling medium distances of between 6 km and 25 km and a cohort of 24 % that travels longer distances of 25-50 km+.

Under the Student Grant Scheme higher level maintenance grants are awarded to eligible students whose normal residence is 30 km or more from their institution.  As of 14th June 2026, for the 2025/26 academic year, c31,000 students whose normal residence is 30 km or more from their institution are in receipt of a maintenance grant at various levels. As of the same date for the 2025/26 academic year, c23,500 students are in receipt of an adjacent maintenance grant at various levels.