Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 7, 14, 19, 28, 32 and 34 together.

As the Deputies will be aware, I am currently finalising a review of policy options relating to the introduction of a form of student contribution. There are many complex and competing considerations involved. These include considerations relating to institutional funding, family affordability, equity, participation and value for money for the taxpayer. However, it is an issue that merits consideration at this important juncture in the development of higher education and also given the current economic circumstances.

My officials are finalising a technical report on the various options available. This will look at available models, drawing on the experience of those that have operated internationally. It will assess the potential policy and cost and revenue impacts of various available approaches in an Irish context. I will be providing the completed technical report to my Cabinet colleagues for consideration in the near future. As the Deputies will appreciate, I do not wish to pre-empt any decisions of Government on these matters.

In the event that it is decided to introduce a form of student contribution, it is my intention to recommend to Government that any new arrangements will apply to students entering higher education from 2010. Such arrangements would also apply, in 2010, to those students who would have entered higher education this year, 2009.

On the issue of the student services charge, the Government has already announced that it is willing to accept increases of up to €1,500 - from €900 - for the 2009-10 academic year in individual higher education institutions. This increase of up to €600 is agreed on the understanding that the revenue generated by the level of increase to be adopted by each institution is required to defray the cost of items that fall to be funded by the student services charge.

All students who are eligible for means tested student support have the student charge paid on their behalf by the local authorities or the vocational education committees, in addition to any maintenance grant and tuition fee grant to which they are entitled.

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