Students can now earn €2,000 more without affecting SUSI grant

Third-level students can now earn more money over the summer without affecting their SUSI grant

Students availing of the Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) grant will be able to earn more money over the holidays without affecting their grant status. 

The maintenance grant is also set to increase by €200 from September.

Government has announced an increase in the holiday income disregard from €4,500 to €6,552, allowing students to make €2,052 more.

Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has said that this will give students the option to work more hours, while also helping address the staff shortages within the hospitality sector. 

It’s one of a number of things we are doing to make work pay and help students,” Varadkar said. “It’s also good for businesses around the country which are struggling to get staff.”

Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris also highlighted the staff shortages within the hospitality sector, stating: “Businesses have also highlighted the shortage in students willing to work over the summer, particularly in the tourism and hospitality sector.”

This change is part of a wider effort to “overhaul” the student grant system, according to the minister.

It has also been announced that cabinet approved measures to increase access to further and higher education for Ukrainian students.

They will be treated as EU students and therefore will not be subject to international fees, and will also be eligible for Erasmus grants, the Springboard+ program and PLC courses.