Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In addition to what I outlined in my previous contribution, we have also introduced a number of other measures to reduce the cost of education, including providing €9 million to increase the PhD stipend from €22,000 to €25,000 per annum. That will benefit approximately 3,000 postgraduates. As the House will be aware, we have a one-off reduction in the student contribution fee of €1,000, which will benefit an estimated 103,000 higher education students who are eligible for the free-fees initiative.

Some €10 million is being provided to the student assistance fund. There is a one-off increase in the postgraduate fee contribution, increasing from €4,000 to €5,000 per annum, which is estimated to benefit about 2,000 students. There is also a one-off 33% reduction in the student fee for 14,000 apprentices attending higher education institutions.

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