Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Budget 2024 introduced what is, by any fair and objective measure, a significant package of supports for third level students and their families. I will take each measure in turn.

It is estimated that 94,000 students will benefit from the €1,000 reduction in the student contribution fee. Almost 52,000 students will benefit from the student grant increases. A total of 1,790 postgraduate students will benefit from the reintroduction in postgraduate supports. Some 24,000 students are expected to benefit from the removal of the PLC fees. Some 11,000 apprentices in higher education will benefit from the one third reduction in the apprenticeship student contribution fee. Furthermore, 3,000 PhD researchers will benefit from a €3,000 increase to the PhD stipends provided by Science Foundation Ireland and the Irish Research Council.

To put that in context, contrary to the air of negativity sometimes surrounding the issue, more than 185,000 students and their families will receive support as a result of budget 2024. They will have real money in their pockets and a real reduction in their bills and in the cost of education as a result of our budget. That includes targeting supports to those who are most in need through the student grant scheme and it also includes universal support, recognising that everybody needs a bit of help, including those who may not qualify for student grants.

We are also doing more. We are increasing the student assistance fund, which will benefit all students in need of supports. This brings the allocation for this academic year to more €17.6 million.

I am most excited about the fact that from September, we will have a new part-time fees scheme. For the very first time, we will have fee support for part-time students, including those studying online. Let us take a hypothetical mother raising two kids on her own, holding down a job and trying to pay a mortgage or pay the rent who has always wanted to go to college but is only able to do it part-time and has been hit with a wall of large fees, now if her household income is below €56,000 per year, she will have those fees paid for by the Government. These are some of the measures we have put in place.

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