Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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21. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the degree to which higher education costs have increased or fluctuated over the past number of years; the extent to which the proportion of the national budget under that heading has varied in the past six years; if continued access to third level education for all students seeking to avail of it will be ensured; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9018/24]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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This question seeks to ascertain and acknowledge the expenditure on this sector of education over the past number of years, how it is progressing and how the expenditure is succeeding in addressing the issues that need to be addressed in that particular area. Will the Minister make a statement on the matter?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I am committed to providing significant additional resources towards the delivery of tertiary education, supporting students, and addressing the cost of education for families. My Department's gross allocation for this year is €4.26 billion, which represents an increase of more than €990 million - almost €1 billion - since the establishment of my Department. Our current expenditure allocation now represents 4.3% of Ireland's national budget.

The Funding the Future framework was published in May 2022 and this outlines the Government's vision for how higher education would be funded and how we will support students, employers and the wider society. At the core of this approach is to maintain a dual focus on increasing recurrent funding for our third-level institutions to enable enhanced quality provision, reducing our staff student ratios by providing more staff in our universities, but also crucially - and I did insist on this - addressing as part of any funding model the cost of education for students and their families and reducing cost as a barrier to participation and success. Over the past two budgets I have increased investment in core funding of higher education by more than €105 million. I will continue to prioritise increased core funding as part of the budgetary process in tandem with the reform and enhancement programme envisaged by the Funding the Future policy.

I have also allocated significant resources to reduce the cost of higher education for families. Over the past two years the student contribution fee payable by students who are eligible for the free fees initiative has been cut by €1,000. This means that some 96,000 students have benefited with €1,000 back in their pocket as a result of that. For students whose families' incomes are between €62,000 and €100,000 there is now a new grant on top of that of €500 towards the undergraduate student contribution fee. This, effectively, cuts their fees in half. I have made increases to student maintenance grants among a number of improvements to the SUSI scheme, increasing all student grants from January, and restoring for the first time since the financial crash the postgraduate maintenance grant as well. I have also ensured that additional funding has been provided to the student assistance fund and I have worked with Government colleagues to make sure we have expanded the renter's tax credit so students and their parents can benefit from that.

I assure Deputy Durkan that providing accessible and affordable high-quality tertiary education to all learners regardless of their background is a key priority for the Government.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister for his continued support of this particular concept and the ability it has to deliver to a wider range of students with wider skills, wider potential and needing wider opportunities.

Thus far, is the programme having the results the Minister had expected or anticipated? To what extent can that be furthered?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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It is having a real benefit because I am very conscious that 96,000 people were getting €1,000 back on fees they had paid. This was just before Christmas. Getting €1,000 knocked off a bill has a real and meaningful impact. Increasing student grants well above the inflation rate is a real term increase. Providing €750 in a renter's tax credit back to a student - or to the parent of a student who pays the rent - makes a real difference. That will be back-dated for a number of years if the student has been in accommodation for a number of years.

Since the establishment of my Department we have made a number of important changes to reduce the cost of education. The Deputy and I have supported these in the Dáil: we have increased maintenance grants; we have increased certain income thresholds; we provided a new grant towards the student contribution fee for eligible incomes between €62,000 and €100,000; we changed the adjacency rules; we have reduced the length of time that a mature student must have passed before they can avail of supports; we have improved postgraduate supports; we have reduced fees; and in recent years Covid and cost-of-living measures have also improved supports for students.

The thing I am most excited about are the changes we are bringing in from September for part-time education and making sure people on lower incomes will benefit from no fees if they qualify for an eligible part-time course.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I welcome the progressive nature by which the Minister is proceeding. Does the Minister remain satisfied that the progress to date in investment and in outcomes is likely to continue into the future and that the resources will be available?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I am very confident that the resources will be available. When I look at other jurisdictions and the very difficult budgetary decisions they are having to make compared to the decisions that we are able to make as a result of full employment, we find ourselves in a more favourable position in bringing forward policy measures. We were able to increase grants and cut fees while increasing core funding. In the past fees were reduced but there was not the increase in core funding by the same amount. That actually caused a hole in funding. Last year, for example, we saw the first improvement in many years in the ratio between staff and students in Irish universities. We will see that again this year. We are seeing additional funding being provided to universities to take on extra staff. This means trying to end and reduce precarious employment, with better terms and conditions for staff working in Irish universities as well.

Being honest, we need to reform the student grant scheme. When this House passed that legislation in 2011 it was good but a lot has happened since then. I really do look forward to working with Deputies to see how we can overhaul the student support structures we have in place in the State.