4227. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the supports available to Irish citizens returning from abroad who wish to pursue a Level 9 qualification having received their level 8 in Ireland; whether the residency requirements for grant and fee support schemes are under review to ensure that returning emigrants are not disadvantaged due to a prolonged period spent living overseas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58979/26]

The main support available to students is the statutory based Student Grant Scheme which is administered by SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland). Under the terms of the Student Grant Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means.

In terms of residency, to be eligible for a grant, you must demonstrate that you have been resident in the Irish State, the EU, EEA, UK or Swiss Federation for three of the last five years on the day before the start of an approved course of study. There are no exemptions to this residency rule. It applies to all applicants including Irish citizens returning from abroad to undertake studies in Ireland. The nationality requirements for the Student Grant Scheme are set out in Section 14 of the Student Support Act 2011 and Regulation 5 of the Student Support Regulations 2026. Similar and in some cases more restrictive residency criteria apply in other member States and relevant jurisdiction e.g. in the UK a student must be resident for the three years immediately preceding their commencement in college.

However, it is possible for students, who did not meet the residency requirement at the commencement of their studies, to have their eligibility reviewed if they meet the residency requirement during the course of their studies.

Alternatively, a tuition student who meets the residency requirement in a Member State, the EEA or Switzerland and satisfies the nationality requirements may be eligible for a fee grant. There are currently no plans to extend beyond the current eligibility criteria and the Student Grant Scheme for 2026 has been published.

While it is the Department’s priority to continue to try and make improvements for all students, you will appreciate that the funding allocation for the Student Grant Scheme is determined in the context of the overall estimates and budgetary process undertaken by all Government Departments. All proposals made in relation to SUSI grant expenditure can only be considered in the context of the budgetary allocation, having regard to overall resource constraints and other competing demands in the further and higher education sector.