4048. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the supports available for students undertaking Level 9 postgraduate qualification in play therapy, as the course is only available part time in Ireland (details supplied); if not, will he make supports for such courses available to participating students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59854/26]

The Student Part-Time Fee Scheme for Specified Undergraduate Courses was introduced in September 2024 and provides fee support to eligible part-time students undertaking specified publicly funded undergraduate programmes leading to a major award. The Scheme was developed to support more flexible pathways to higher education, particularly for groups that are traditionally underrepresented in the sector, including lone parents, carers and people with disabilities.

The Student Part-Time Fee Scheme for Specified Undergraduate Courses is currently limited to undergraduate courses. Section 8(3) of the Student Support Act 2011, which provides for the approval of part-time courses, only allows for undergraduate part-time courses to be approved. Any future extension to postgraduate courses would require a change to primary legislation and would need to be informed by the future development of this pilot scheme.

Student Grant Schemes are reviewed on an annual basis. Any expansion to a scheme would require consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation. The Deputy will appreciate that the funding allocation for student supports is determined in the context of the overall estimates and budgetary process undertaken by all Government Departments having regard to overall resource constraints and other competing demands.

There may be other supports available to the student outside of the Student Grant Scheme. Tax relief at the standard rate of tax can be claimed in respect of tuition fees paid for approved courses at approved colleges of higher education. Further information on this tax relief is available on the Revenue website. In addition to this, I provided €19.3 million for the Student Assistance Fund which is more than a quarter of a million euro up on the previous year. It is available to all students who have an emergency financial need and supports approximately 22,000 students each year.