Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As I am conscious this is the first time we have had an opportunity to take questions on fees in college since the passing of Deputy Ó Ríordáin's colleague, and our former Minister for Education, Niamh Bhreathnach, I take this opportunity to pay tribute to her and extend my condolences to her family, friends, to her Labour Party family and to the Deputy. Anytime we talk about fees, I am conscious of her very strong legacy. While the Deputy and I might debate how best to get there, we share a view that we need to do everything we can to reduce cost as a barrier. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam dílis.

As the Deputy knows, the Government has introduced a range of measures to support people with the cost of living. As part of this, we introduced a significant package to try to reduce the cost of going to college this year and the package provided for adjustments, including once-off measures. This included a once-off reducing of €1,000 in the student contribution rate payable by students eligible for free tuition fees under the Department's free fees initiative for this academic year. A key principle of the design of the free fees initiative is to encourage progression, that is, to support students in progressing through their chosen course of study from year to year.

As a result, students are not typically supported under the free fees initiative for a repeat period of study or a different course at the same level.

While I feel there are a few anomalies we need to address, in terms of students who move from one course to the next, the age at which they can move and the length of time they need to be out, it is a statement of fact that at the moment the free fees initiative does not allow for a repeat period of study or another first or second year. As a result of that, the students who are in such a situation did not qualify for the criteria set down by the scheme. It is that honest an answer, while I understand their frustration.

We have moved to try to support students in other ways through significantly topping up the student assistance fund to over €20 million for this academic year, the highest amount ever provided for under the fund. We have also made sure that students now qualify for the rent credit, which was not necessarily clear on budget day. We made sure it was through the Finance Bill.

There was a once-off reduction of €1,000 in the contribution this year. As I said on budget day last year and will say again, we are only warming up in terms of reducing the cost of education and fees. I will certainly reflect on those involved in repeat study as we prepare for the next Estimates process.

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