(LRC Revised)

Number 4 of 2011

STUDENT SUPPORT ACT 2011

REVISED

Updated to 18 March 2026

Changes to legislation

as of 10 July 2026, this Act is up to date with all changes known to be in force.

This Revised Act is an administrative consolidation of the

Student Support Act 2011

. It is prepared by the Law Reform Commission in accordance with its function under

the

Law Reform Commission Act 1975

(3/1975) to keep the law under review and to undertake revision and consolidation

of statute law.

All Acts up to and including the

Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2026

(5/2026), enacted 12 March 2026, and all statutory instruments up to and including

the

Student Part-Time Fee Regulations for Specified Undergraduate Courses 2026

(S.I. No. 99 of 2026), made 18 March 2026, were considered in the preparation of

this Revised Act.

Disclaimer: While every care has been taken in the preparation of this Revised Act,

the Law Reform Commission can assume no responsibility for and give no guarantees,

undertakings or warranties concerning the accuracy, completeness or up to date nature

of the information provided and does not accept any liability whatsoever arising from

any errors or omissions. Please notify any errors, omissions and comments by email

to revisedacts@lawreform.ie.

Number

4

of

2011

STUDENT SUPPORT ACT 2011

REVISED

Updated to 18 March 2026

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

PART 1

Preliminary and General

Section

1. Short title and commencement.

2. Interpretation.

3. Expenses.

4. Regulations.

5. Laying of instruments before Houses of Oireachtas.

6. Repeals and transitional arrangements.

7. Approved institution.

8. Approved course.

9. Minister may appoint awarding authority.

10. Order appointing an awarding authority.

11. Employee or fixed term employee of appointed or transferring awarding authority.

12. Awarding authority.

13. Agreements relating to performance of certain functions.

14. Student — interpretation.

14A. Operation of section 14 of Act of 2011 (prescribing of certain matters).

PART 2

Grants

15. Advances to awarding authorities.

16. Schemes of grants.

17. Regulations regarding applications.

18. Application for and award of grant.

19. Change of circumstances.

20. Appeals to appeals officers.

21. Appeals to Appeals Board.

22. Inquiry officer.

23. Offences and penalties.

24. Recovery of debt.

25. Student Grants Appeals Board.

26. Temporary appointment to Appeals Board.

27. Report of Appeals Board.

PART 3

Miscellaneous

28. Processing of personal data.

29. Confirmation of schemes of grants.

30. Access plans and equality policy.

SCHEDULE 1

SCHEDULE 2

SCHEDULE 3

Acts Referred to

Adoption Act 2010

2010, No. 21

Adoptive Leave Acts 1995 and 2005

Carer’s Leave Act 2001

2001, No. 19

Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010

2010, No. 24

Companies Acts

Data Protection Acts 1988 and 2003

Disability Act 2005

2005, No. 14

European Parliament Elections Act 1997

1997, No. 2

Guardianship of Children Acts 1964 to 1997

Institutes of Technology Act 2006

2006, No. 25

Institutes of Technology Acts 1992 to 2006

Interpretation Act 2005

2005, No. 23

Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Act 1968

1968, No. 24

Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Act 1978

1978, No. 26

Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Act 1992

1992, No. 19

Local Government Act 2001

2001, No. 37

Maternity Protection Acts 1994 and 2004

Medical Practitioners Act 2007

2007, No. 25

Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Acts 1973 to 2005

Organisation of Working Time Act 1997

1997, No. 20

Parental Leave Acts 1998 and 2006

Protection of Employees (Fixed-Term Work) Act 2003

2003, No. 29

Protection of Employees (Part-Time Work) 2001

2001, No. 45

Qualifications (Education and Training) Act 1999

1999, No. 26

Redundancy Payments Acts 1967 to 2007

Refugee Act 1996

1996, No. 17

Regional Technical Colleges Act 1992

1992, No. 16

Terms of Employment (Information) Acts 1994 and 2001

Unfair Dismissals Acts 1977 to 2007

Universities Act 1997

1997, No. 24

Vocational Education Act 1930

1930, No. 29

Number

4

of

2011

STUDENT SUPPORT ACT 2011

REVISED

Updated to 18 March 2026

AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE MAKING OF GRANTS IN CERTAIN CASES BY AWARDING AUTHORITIES

TO ENABLE PERSONS TO ATTEND CERTAIN COURSES OF HIGHER OR FURTHER EDUCATION, TO ESTABLISH

AN APPEALS BOARD TO BE KNOWN AS AN BORD ACHOMHAIRC I LEITH DEONTAS MAC LÉINN OR, IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, THE STUDENT GRANTS APPEALS BOARD, TO REPEAL THE LOCAL

AUTHORITIES (HIGHER EDUCATION GRANTS) ACTS 1968 TO 1992 AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED

MATTERS.

[2

nd February

, 2011]

BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS

Annotations

Modifications (not altering text)

C1

Functions

transferred and references to the "Minister for Education and Skills" construed as

"Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science"

(21.10.2020) by

Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

(Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order

2020

(S.I. No. 451 of 2020), arts. 2, 3(1)(a), (2) and sch., in operation

as per art. 1(2), subject to transitional provisions in arts. 4-8.

2. (1) The administration

and business in connection with the exercise, performance or execution of any

functions transferred by this Order are transferred to the Department of Further

and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

(2) References to the

Department of Education and Skills contained in any Act or any instrument made

under such Act and relating to any administration and business transferred by

paragraph (1) shall, from the commencement of this Order, be construed as

references to the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation

and Science.

3. (1) The functions vested

in the Minister for Education and Skills -

(

a

) by or under the

Acts specified in Part 1 of the Schedule, and

...

are transferred to the

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

(2) References to the

Minister for Education and Skills contained in any Act or instrument made under

such Act and relating to any functions transferred by paragraph (1) shall, from

the commencement of this Order, be construed as references to the Minister for

Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

SCHEDULE

Article 3

Part 1

...

Student Support Act 2011 (No. 4 of

2011)

...

C2

Functions transferred and references to “Minister for

Finance” construed as "Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform"

(29.07.2011) by

Finance (Transfer of Departmental Administration and

Ministerial Functions) Order 2011

(S.I. No. 418 of 2011), arts. 3, 5 and

sch. 1 part 2, in operation as per art. 1(2).

3. The functions conferred on the

Minister for Finance by or under the provisions of —

(

a

) the enactments

specified in Schedule 1, and

...

are transferred to the Minister

for Public Expenditure and Reform.

...

5. References to the Minister for

Finance contained in any Act or instrument under an Act and relating to any

functions transferred by this Order shall, from the commencement of this Order, be

construed as references to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

...

Schedule 1

Enactments

...

Part 2

1922 to 2011 Enactments

Number and Year

Short Title

Provision

(1)

(2)

(3)

...

...

...

No. 4 of 2011

Student Support Act 2011

Sections 7(2), 8(3)(a), 9(1), 10(2)(f), 13(7)(b), 14(1)(e)(ii), 15, 16, 17 and 25(10)

...

...

...

The history of the Ministers

concerned with Finance aspects of the collectively cited

Student Support

Acts

can be traced as follows

• Functions transferred and

title of Minister for

Finance

changed to

Public Expenditure and

Reform

(29.07.2011) by

Finance (Transfer of Departmental Administration

and Ministerial Functions) Order 2011

(S.I. No. 418 of 2025);

• Title of Minister for

Public Expenditure and Reform

changed to

Public Expenditure, National

Development Plan Delivery and Reform

(1.02.2023) by

Public Expenditure

and Reform (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order

2023

(S.I. No. 19 of 2023), in operation as per art. 1(2);

• Title of Minister for

Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform

changed to

Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and

Digitalisation

(5.06.2025) by

Public Expenditure, National Development

Plan Delivery and Reform (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of

Minister) Order 2025

(S.I. No. 243 of 2025).

Editorial Notes

E1

Previous affecting provision: periods of residence for purposes of Free

Fees Initiative provided by

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European

Union (Consequential Provisions) Act 2019

(8/2019), s. 19, not commenced;

repealed (17.12.2020) by

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European

Union (Consequential Provisions) Act 2020

(23/2020), s. 4(a), S.I. No. 634

of 2020.

Annotations

Modifications (not altering text)

C1

Functions

transferred and references to the "Minister for Education and Skills" construed as

"Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science"

(21.10.2020) by

Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

(Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order

2020

(S.I. No. 451 of 2020), arts. 2, 3(1)(a), (2) and sch., in operation

as per art. 1(2), subject to transitional provisions in arts. 4-8.

2. (1) The administration

and business in connection with the exercise, performance or execution of any

functions transferred by this Order are transferred to the Department of Further

and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

(2) References to the

Department of Education and Skills contained in any Act or any instrument made

under such Act and relating to any administration and business transferred by

paragraph (1) shall, from the commencement of this Order, be construed as

references to the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation

and Science.

3. (1) The functions vested

in the Minister for Education and Skills -

(

a

) by or under the

Acts specified in Part 1 of the Schedule, and

...

are transferred to the

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

(2) References to the

Minister for Education and Skills contained in any Act or instrument made under

such Act and relating to any functions transferred by paragraph (1) shall, from

the commencement of this Order, be construed as references to the Minister for

Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

SCHEDULE

Article 3

Part 1

...

Student Support Act 2011 (No. 4 of

2011)

...

C2

Functions transferred and references to “Minister for

Finance” construed as "Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform"

(29.07.2011) by

Finance (Transfer of Departmental Administration and

Ministerial Functions) Order 2011

(S.I. No. 418 of 2011), arts. 3, 5 and

sch. 1 part 2, in operation as per art. 1(2).

3. The functions conferred on the

Minister for Finance by or under the provisions of —

(

a

) the enactments

specified in Schedule 1, and

...

are transferred to the Minister

for Public Expenditure and Reform.

...

5. References to the Minister for

Finance contained in any Act or instrument under an Act and relating to any

functions transferred by this Order shall, from the commencement of this Order, be

construed as references to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

...

Schedule 1

Enactments

...

Part 2

1922 to 2011 Enactments

Number and Year

Short Title

Provision

(1)

(2)

(3)

...

...

...

No. 4 of 2011

Student Support Act 2011

Sections 7(2), 8(3)(a), 9(1), 10(2)(f), 13(7)(b), 14(1)(e)(ii), 15, 16, 17 and 25(10)

...

...

...

The history of the Ministers

concerned with Finance aspects of the collectively cited

Student Support

Acts

can be traced as follows

• Functions transferred and

title of Minister for

Finance

changed to

Public Expenditure and

Reform

(29.07.2011) by

Finance (Transfer of Departmental Administration

and Ministerial Functions) Order 2011

(S.I. No. 418 of 2025);

• Title of Minister for

Public Expenditure and Reform

changed to

Public Expenditure, National

Development Plan Delivery and Reform

(1.02.2023) by

Public Expenditure

and Reform (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order

2023

(S.I. No. 19 of 2023), in operation as per art. 1(2);

• Title of Minister for

Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform

changed to

Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and

Digitalisation

(5.06.2025) by

Public Expenditure, National Development

Plan Delivery and Reform (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of

Minister) Order 2025

(S.I. No. 243 of 2025).

Editorial Notes

E1

Previous affecting provision: periods of residence for purposes of Free

Fees Initiative provided by

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European

Union (Consequential Provisions) Act 2019

(8/2019), s. 19, not commenced;

repealed (17.12.2020) by

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European

Union (Consequential Provisions) Act 2020

(23/2020), s. 4(a), S.I. No. 634

of 2020.

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

PART 1

Preliminary and General

Section

1. Short title and commencement.

2. Interpretation.

3. Expenses.

4. Regulations.

5. Laying of instruments before Houses of Oireachtas.

6. Repeals and transitional arrangements.

7. Approved institution.

8. Approved course.

9. Minister may appoint awarding authority.

10. Order appointing an awarding authority.

11. Employee or fixed term employee of appointed or transferring awarding authority.

12. Awarding authority.

13. Agreements relating to performance of certain functions.

14. Student — interpretation.

14A. Operation of section 14 of Act of 2011 (prescribing of certain matters).

PART 2

Grants

15. Advances to awarding authorities.

16. Schemes of grants.

17. Regulations regarding applications.

18. Application for and award of grant.

19. Change of circumstances.

20. Appeals to appeals officers.

21. Appeals to Appeals Board.

22. Inquiry officer.

23. Offences and penalties.

24. Recovery of debt.

25. Student Grants Appeals Board.

26. Temporary appointment to Appeals Board.

27. Report of Appeals Board.

PART 3

Miscellaneous

28. Processing of personal data.

29. Confirmation of schemes of grants.

30. Access plans and equality policy.

SCHEDULE 1

SCHEDULE 2

SCHEDULE 3