4064. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when the SUSI income thresholds were last comprehensively reviewed against actual student living costs; the cost-of-living data used in that review; whether he will commission an updated assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61532/26]

The most recent comprehensive review of the SUSI Student Grant Scheme income thresholds against the actual costs of attending further and higher education was undertaken as part of the Indecon Review of the Student Grant Scheme. This was commissioned by the Department and published in February 2022.

The review included a dedicated assessment of the real costs of attending further and higher education, an examination of maintenance grant levels, and an analysis on income thresholds, including their relationship to inflation and affordability. It made recommendations on future policy development in relation to maintenance supports and eligibility criteria.

Since the publication of the 2022 Indecon Review, the Department has implemented a number of enhancements to SUSI supports through successive Budgets, including increases in maintenance grants and income thresholds.

For example, Budget 2025 increased all thresholds with all standard rate income thresholds increased by at least 15% for the 2025/26 academic year. As a result, undergraduate students from households with reckonable income of up to €115,000 may have qualified for some level of SUSI support.

Budget 2026 delivered further enhancements to the supports available to students. This included the first permanent reduction in the Student Contribution fee of €500. In addition to this, all SUSI non-adjacent maintenance rates increased and the threshold for a student contribution grant increased up to €120,000.

The increases of at least €200 of all SUSI non-adjacent maintenance grant rates will support low-income students with accommodation and higher transport costs. This measure will help ease the financial burden on students and will benefit around 30,000 PLC, Undergraduate and Postgraduate Students whose normal residence is 30km or more from their institution who may have to pay rent or higher transport costs.

Other budget 2026 changes included an increase to the postgraduate fee contribution from €4,000 to €4,500 and an increase the special rate of maintenance grant threshold.

The Department is committed in continuing to roll out equitable, sustainable funded and fair measures and officials have been tasked with examining the feasibility and costs that would be incurred in the implementation of additional and new measures.

To inform decision-making head of Budget 2027, I will publish an?options paper?in the coming weeks which will?identify?costs and potential impacts of various policy options aimed at reducing the cost of higher education.

While I cannot confirm the specific items that will be included in this Budget, options to support students and reduce financial barriers will be key priorities for me as part of Budget negotiations.