Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 82: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills if she will rule out any increase in the student registration fee in budget 2011; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41262/10]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 164: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which she has evaluated the impact of increased university registration or tuition fees on families attempting to make third level provision for their children having particular regard to the Government's repeated aspirations to ensure the availability of larger numbers of graduates capable of achieving higher levels of employment in the future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41675/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 82, 124 and 164 together. As I am sure the Deputy will appreciate, I am not in a position to comment on budgetary proposals. Speculation on any decision in relation to student registration fees is just that, speculation. The Student Services Charge is levied by the Higher Education institutions to defray the costs of examinations, registration and student services. Students eligible under the means-tested student grant schemes do not have to pay this charge. It is paid on their behalf under my Department's student grant schemes in addition to any maintenance grant and tuition fee support they are entitled to. Some 43% of undergraduate students fall into this category and do not have to pay the charge. The Government is conscious however, that for those in income groups just above the grant eligibility threshold, any increase in the charge would be an important affordability consideration. However, research also indicates that a range of complex factors that extends beyond financial barriers, such as societal and cultural issues, parental and teacher expectations and previous academic attainment, are also factors that impact on the participation rate of various income groups. Participation growth in Irish higher education has been significant over the past three decades, with the number of new entrants almost trebling in that period. The expansion of higher education opportunities continues to be an important policy priority for government. In the last three years higher education institutions have sought to respond to the increases in demand from school leavers and adults returning to education, including unemployed people, by increasing the number of full time places they offer and also by expanding part time and other flexible types of provision. The Government is committed to ensuring that opportunities to engage in higher education continue to be made available to potential learners and that access to higher education will continue to be determined by a student's ability and not their financial circumstances. A key challenge for the development of the sector will be in enabling it to meet future demand on a sustainable funding basis, without compromising on quality. A widening of the funding base for the sector, to reduce the relatively high level of dependence on the Exchequer, is one of the issues to be considered in that context.