Over €650k in funding to assist Limerick students
THE MINISTER for Further and Higher Education, Research and Innovation, Simon Harris, has announced that over €650,000 in funding will be made available to assist students in Limerick who are impacted by the cost of living crisis.
The once-off funding will be provided through the Student Assistance Fund (SAF) which assists students with the cost of books and class materials, rent, childcare and transport, among other things.
The Higher Education Authority (HEA) will distribute the funding to higher education institutions over the coming months.
A total of €4.3 million will be distributed across the country.
Minister Harris said: “The Student Assistance Fund is an invaluable resource for third-level students who are finding it difficult to make ends meet. The fund is there to assist with additional costs they may face over the coming months. It is completely confidential and accessible through the access offices in publicly funded higher education colleges.”
The Technological University of the Shannon has been allocated €283,249; the University of Limerick €276,549 and Mary Immaculate College €93,653.
The total allocation for the SAF for the 22/23 academic year will be over €20 million nationally.
This is the highest amount of money that has ever been provided since the fund was established.