Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this question. It must be a priority for the House and we must continue to fund higher education properly. We brought a plan called "Funding the Future" to the Cabinet last year. There are two parts to it. Some people would like to discuss the first part, which is about how to fund institutions properly to deliver the education system we want. We are fully committed to that, but a second part was also agreed whereby, in advance of the budget every year, we will publish a cost-of-education paper. It is like what the Department of Social Protection has been doing for years and how we have been publishing tax options in advance of budgets. Our paper sets out what we can do to reduce the cost of education for students and their families. We published it for the first time last year. This year, we will publish it at an enhanced level. I attended a stakeholder forum last week where we brought together students unions, access officers and organisations like the Society of St. Vincent de Paul to explore options.

The Deputy will remember that, last year, we secured a package of cost-of-living supports that led to a significant reduction in costs for third level students and their families. For example, we reduced college fees for full-time undergraduate students for the first time in 20 to 30 years by knocking €1,000 off those fees. We invested an extra €12.3 million in the student assistance fund, bringing its total for this academic year to over €20 million. It is sometimes referred to as a hardship fund, which people can apply for if they are struggling with bills or need additional support. It helps people with the cost of rent, food and childcare. The Deputy will remember that we also ensured that the rent tax credit was extended through the Finance Act - it was not clear on budget day - to cover student accommodation, including the rent-a-room scheme, of which many students avail.

Through the budgetary process, we have seen improvements in the Student Universal Support Ireland, SUSI, grant scheme, for example, an increase in maintenance grant rates by at least 10% above the rate of inflation and an expansion of the grant's remit in order that more undergraduate students than ever before are eligible. We also made a reduction in the fees permanent by having a new student contribution grant of €500 for anyone earning between €62,000 and €100,000. In other words, if someone's household income is less than €100,000, he or she will get €500 off his or her fees this year. We will do more in the budget.

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