Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 89: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide information on which universities are accepting stage payments for the student contribution; his plans to extend stage payments to all universities and State-funded third level institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27721/11]

Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 91: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will engage with third level education institutes nationwide to ensure that student contributions can be paid in two instalments rather than one at the start of the academic year to ease financial pressure on students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27725/11]

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 110: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if, in view of the financial pressure that students and their families are under at present, he will make a direction to all colleges, universities and so on that fees will in all cases be allowed to be paid in instalments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27864/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 89, 91 and 110 together.

A new student contribution of €2,000 was introduced in higher education institutions with effect from the 2011/12 academic year. The student contribution replaces the Student Services Charge and applies to all students who benefit under the free fees scheme. In recognition of the financial pressures that the student contribution may place on families, my Department requested higher education institutions to consider putting in place arrangements under which a student may opt to pay the student contribution charge in two instalments in a given academic year. I have again asked the Higher Education Authority to request institutions to allow the payment of the charge in two moieties.

I understand that a few institutions do not have this facility at present due to technical/systems limitations and administrative issues that make it impractical to allow for payment by instalments. However, all institutions have been requested to accommodate students who present with financial difficulties on a case by case basis and, from the academic year 2012/13 onwards, to have systems in place that allow for the payment of the student contribution in two instalments.

The position with regard to each University is set out in the table below.