AQW 14138/17-22

Mr Stewart Dickson
Alliance Party
East Antrim

Tabled Date: 05/02/2021
Answered On Date: 16/02/2021
Priority Written: Yes

Question:
To ask the Minister for the Economy, in relation to the £500 Covid Disruption Payment, to detail (i) the rationale for excluding students ordinarily resident in Northern Ireland, but studying (a) in other parts of the UK and the Republic of Ireland; (b) with the Open University; or (c) part-time; and (iv) whether she will extend the payment to such students.

Answer:

The Covid Disruption Payment is for full-time students at Northern Ireland publicly funded Higher Education Institutions and full-time Higher Education students at the Further Education Colleges, in recognition of the disruption suffered by students to their studies due to the impact of Covid-19.

I recognise that many Northern Ireland domiciled higher education students are enrolled in universities in Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland and that these students will have been adversely impacted by the pandemic, just as those in local institutions have been. It is important to note, however, the funding agreed is for Northern Ireland institutions to support their students. Payments will issue directly from the institutions, not from the Department. It should also be noted the only feasible way in which a payment scheme of this size can be implemented is to work through the students’ institutions; that is, either their university or further education college. The Department does not have the legal power to make payments through public bodies outside of Northern Ireland, such as a GB or RoI university or the Student Loans Company.

However, Northern Ireland students elsewhere in the UK and Republic of Ireland are not without support. The other jurisdictions have all recently announced significant increases to their student support packages, and I would encourage any Northern Ireland student studying outside of Northern Ireland to contact their university, should they be in financial hardship, and to avail of the support which is in place there.

Part-time students, such as those studying at the Open University, are more likely to be in employment than full-time students, while full-time students are more likely to have a different term time address and associated additional living costs. Part-time students continue to be eligible for DfE-funded hardship funds administered by the Universities and Further Education Colleges, in addition to the other support announced. I am happy to have announced a further expansion of these hardship funds last week; as such, should any part-time students find themselves in financial difficulties, I would encourage them to apply for these funds through their higher education institution.