Kildare Senator welcomes new changes to student maintenance grants and childcare scheme subsidy

A Senator based in Kildare has welcomed new changes to student maintenance grants and childcare scheme subsidy.

Fianna Fáil Senator Fiona O' Loughlin said that families in County Kildare will save on average up to €1,200 per child in childcare/early years.

She explained that this comes from the National Childcare scheme subsidy, which is increasing from 50 cent an hour to
€1.40 an hour.

Parents will see this cut immediately as there is a national agreement with childcare providers that their fees will not increase.

Senator Fiona O`Loughlin has said that this 'reiterates Fianna Fails commitment to reducing childcare costs for families', and has thanked Ministers Michael McGrath and Roderic O' Gorman.

The Newbridge-based politician added that the overall number of childcare places will also be increased with an an extra €59 million invested in our childcare providers.

Commenting on higher-level students from Kildare benefitting from a new increase in student maintenance grants, Senator O' Loughlin, who is also her party's Spokesperson for Education, said that the grant is 'incredibly important' for hundreds of students and their families across the county, 'particularly with the challenges of inflationary pressures and a cost of living crisis.'
 
She elaborated: "The changes will see the Special and Band 1 maintenance grant rates increase by 14 per cent, and
all other maintenance grant rates by 10 per cent.

Senator Fiona O' Loughlin. File Pic

"Students will see their rates increase proportionally, with students in the 2023/2024 academic year seeing the full benefit of the rate increase."

The increases come on top of other measures introduced to help students as part of Budget 2023.

Senator O' Loughlin further said: "In December, eligible PLC, undergraduate and postgraduate students who receive the Special Rate of grant were paid the equivalent to one extra monthly maintenance grant payment.

"The undergraduate student contribution fee for eligible higher education students was also reduced by €1,000 for this academic year, along with 50 per cent reduction in public transport fares."