4066. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to consider introducing a SUSI ‘hardship’ or ‘exceptional circumstances’ assessment for families who fall outside the standard grant thresholds but can demonstrate that their disposable income, after essential household and educational costs, is insufficient to support a student through higher education; the consideration that has been given to such a mechanism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61529/26]

The Student Grant Scheme, administered by SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland), provides grant assistance 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.

Student grant applications are means tested on gross income from all sources earned inside and outside the State within a specified reference period. Therefore, all income is assessed from the same starting point, eliminating any distortion which might arise from different spending decisions if outgoings were also to be assessed. This means test is applied nationally to all applicants. In the case of both employed and self-employed applicants, gross income, before deduction of income tax or universal social charge, is assessed.

Under the terms of the Student Grant Scheme mortgage or rental payments are not considered as deductions when calculating reckonable income for any applicant. As is the case in any statutory scheme, a core principle is that there is consistency of approach for applicants as part of the means assessment process. The terms and conditions of funding are applied impartially to all applicants, and this approach ensures fairness to all applying for a student grant.

However, certain specified social welfare and support payments are excluded for income assessment purposes under Article 22(4) of the Student Grant Scheme. These include the Housing Assistance Payment and Rental Accommodation Scheme, which are both local authority supports for individuals and families at risk of homelessness. In addition to this, income from Rent Supplement is not included in calculating reckonable income for SUSI purposes.

Many long-term payments from the Department of Social Protection are not disregarded. However, Schedule 2 of the 2026 Student Grant Scheme lists the Eligible Long-term payments for the highest rate of maintenance grant for the 2026/27 academic year.

It should be noted that any change or modification to the provisions which set out reckonable income, such as the disregard of any additional payments, or changes to how certain payments are treated under the scheme, would entail significant cost. The funding allocation for student supports is reviewed on an annual basis, and any improvements are subject to the overall estimates and budgetary process undertaken by all Government Departments having regard to overall resource constraints and other competing demands on public funding.

Budget 2026 provided significant improvements to existing supports under the Student Grant Scheme for the 2026/27 academic year. These enhancements include an increase in all non-adjacent maintenance rates and an increase of the SUSI threshold up to €120,000. I will continue to work to ensure that changes to the scheme benefit learners and their families in addressing costs of further and higher education.

In terms of other supports available, students in higher education institutions experiencing exceptional financial need can apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund (SAF) for help with either temporary or ongoing financial difficulties. This Fund is administered on a confidential, discretionary basis and assists students, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances. Details of this fund are available from the Access Office in the higher education institution attended.

In addition, tax relief at the standard rate of tax may be claimed in respect of tuition fees paid for approved courses at approved colleges of higher education including approved undergraduate and postgraduate courses in EU Member States and in non-EU countries. Further information on this tax relief is available from the Revenue Commissioners website [www.revenue.ie].