Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We both agree on the need to increase funding for higher education. Let us be honest, though. Approximately 80% of the higher education budget is going on fixed staff costs and that is right and proper. The Deputy would be the first to tell me if that was not being addressed. We cannot pretend that the cost of providing the education system this year is decreasing, in fact, it is increasing. What we can do is look at ways of providing support. One of the things that is never said in these debates is that 44% of students in Ireland have their student contribution fee in full or in part paid through the Exchequer. Not every student is paying the student contribution fee. Some 44% of people are not; the most vulnerable, most disadvantaged and lowest income people are not paying it. I want to review the student supports and see how we can take more people out of the net of paying the contribution fee. Work is under way in that regard.

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