All students in County Cork, including Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) students, undergrads and postgrads, will benefit from improved supports aimed at easing the financial burden of higher education, Fine Gael Councillor John Paul O’Shea has said.
Cllr O’Shea said: “We know that the cost of going to college can be a significant challenge for families in County Cork.
“Each year, Fine Gael have been making important changes to help students in County Cork and this year is no different. Students across the board will see several significant improvements.
“Starting this September, we have completely removed the charges for Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) courses across the Education and Training Board sector. This means more opportunities for those in <County> looking to further their education without the barrier of additional costs.
“Maintenance grants for all postgraduate students are being re-introduced from September 2024 for the first time since the financial crash, and under the Student Support Act, fee support will be available to eligible students undertaking approved part-time courses for the first time.
“Moreover, we are abolishing undergraduate college fees for individuals earning less than €55,924 annually, marking another step in our efforts to make education accessible to everyone in <County>.
“We are increasing the income threshold for Band 4 of the maintenance grant from €46,790 to €50,840, allowing more students to access higher levels of financial support.
“In addition to the above threshold changes, the holiday earnings provision under the Student Grant Scheme will allow for a deduction up to a maximum amount of €7,925– an increase from €6,552.
“Fine Gael are working to ensure that every student in County Cork has a meaningful opportunity to learn and get the qualification they want.
“These changes, ratified in Budget 2024, aim to provide significant relief to families across County Cork and enable students to focus more on their studies and less on financial constraints.
“These initiatives by Fine Gael ensure that Ireland remains a competitive player on the international stage by making higher learning more accessible than ever before.” Cllr O’Shea concluded.
