Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 176: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason college registration fees have increased from €1,500 to €2,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23126/11]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 217: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a family with two or three children in third level college; and if there is a reduction in fees. [24005/11]

John Lyons (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 228: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will outline the cost of registration fees for those undertaking third level undergraduate courses; the subsequent cost to families if a number of children in the family are undertaking higher level education at the same time; and the reason costs must be paid up-front to educational institutions and the only method of reimbursement is through tax relief. [24199/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 176, 217 and 228 together.

The economic circumstances of the country are such that the previous Fianna Fail-Green Party Government introduced a new Student Contribution Charge of €2,000 from this September. The Programme for Government commits the Government to implementing the decisions of the 2011 Budget, which was passed by the last Dáil. The new student contribution will replace the previous Student Services Charge and will apply to students who qualify for 'free fees'. The contribution will be paid by the Exchequer on behalf of student grant-holders who last year amounted to some 46% of students in receipt of free fees.

Conscious of financial pressures on families tax relief provisions have been put in place so that second and subsequent siblings will not have to bear the full cost increase. Based on current rates of relief, the effective cost of the student contribution, net of tax relief, for second and subsequent siblings will be €1,600 each. An additional category of "50% Student Contribution" has been also been included in the student grants scheme. Institutions have also been asked to allow students to pay the contribution in two moieties.