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Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Leo Varadkar and Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris have today announced changes to the student grant scheme to allow students earn more over the summer academic break and other non-term time periods.
The government today approved the Minister’s request to increase the holiday earnings income disregard from €4,500 to €6,552. This will mean a student can earn €2,000 more during their academic break and not lose eligibility for the grant in 2023.
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said:
"This change gives students the option, should they wish, to work more hours over the summer without losing any of their student grant.
"It’s one of a number of things we are doing to make work pay and help students. It’s also good for businesses around the country which are struggling to get staff."
Minister Harris added:
"We have listened to students and businesses across the country. It is clear this has been playing on the minds of students and impacted their ability or desire to work over the academic break.
"Businesses have also highlighted the shortage in students willing to work over the summer, particularly in the tourism and hospitality sector.
"So, today the government has approved the changes, which I expect will make a real difference to students and businesses across the country."
Until now, students could earn a maximum of €4,500 during non-term time. Any earnings outside of that would be considered as income and could affect their student grant. This will now increase to €6,552 for the academic break period.
These measures are part of a broader number of reforms to the student grant scheme.
From September, all maintenance grants will increase by €200. The income thresholds have been increased, and the adjacency rate has also been amended meaning more students will qualify for a higher level of support.
As part of the Funding the Future policy, Minister Harris has also outlined his intention to make further changes to the scheme over the course of a number of Budgets.