Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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274. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of reducing the student contribution fee by €250; and by €500. [29347/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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As the Deputy will be aware the Student Contribution is set to increase to €3,000 for the upcoming 2015/16 academic year. Students who qualify for grant assistance under my Department's Student Grant Scheme (50% Approx.) have the contribution paid for them.

There were some 129,300 students in receipt of free fees funding in the academic year 2013/14. Based on this figure the total cost of reducing the Student Contribution fee by €250 would be in the region of €32m; with a reduction of €500 costing approximately €65m.