AQW 38287/22-27

Ms Kate Nicholl
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 15/01/2026
Answered On Date: 28/01/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for the Economy whether her Department plans to extend the maintenance and childcare support, currently only available to full-time students, to eligible part-time learners.

Answer:

Engagement is continuing on the development of draft Terms of Reference for a wider Review of Higher Education Funding.

It is proposed that the review will include consideration of the financial support available to students, including whether current arrangements remain appropriate and whether support should be extended beyond its existing scope.

The overall timeframe for the review will be determined once the Terms of Reference are finalised and subject to the availability of resources.