Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

It is important we are clear on the budgetary context for budget 2026. Many of my Government colleagues have many priorities in their respective Departments and policy areas which they will commence negotiation on at the end of July and through August. The Minister, Deputy Lawless, has been clear that affordability for students is an important priority for him as part of his negotiation for budget 2026. That is the context. We will engage in the overall envelope as part of what will be available for budget 2026 and it is in that context we will be able to see what is possible for supports around the student contribution fees or, indeed, changes to income thresholds, maintenance grants and the breadth of other supports which are important to support students across our third level sector. The distinction between what has happened in the previous three years and the process we are now entering into is that the decisions we will make as part of budget 2026 are about making permanent and sustained changes for households and workers across our economy.

As a Government, we have been clear that the cost-of-living packages introduced in previous years are not part of the budget 2026 process. It is on that basis that different Ministers will set out their priorities. Obviously, bringing affordability to public services, whether in education, childcare or health, is an important component of many aspects of the programme for Government, including the student contribution fee. The Minister, Deputy Lawless, has engaged extensively with the third level representative bodies and directly with representatives. That is why he is developing the cost-of-education paper which will inform his negotiation as part of budget 2026.

I have also been clear that the overall budgetary context is different this year than it was in previous years. We have significant downside risks facing the Irish economy and endless expenditure asks from anyone in the House need to be carefully managed so that we can sustain whatever decisions we make into the medium to long term. We have a lot of competing demands in government, including significantly ramping up investment in infrastructure and housing, along with supporting the ambition in terms of the enterprise economy, social protection and many other areas of expenditure.

As part of budget 2026, we are engaging in a negotiation, in the aftermath of the summer economic statement, and affordability for students will form part of that overall discussion. The Minister, Deputy Lawless, will engage with everyone across the Government around what is possible within the overall envelope. It is distinct from previous years in that one-off measures will not feature in budget 2026.

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