Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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280. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding college fees for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 13; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29366/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The Student Contribution is due to increase to €3,000 for the upcoming 2015/16 academic year. The contribution is paid by the Exchequer for those students (some 50%) who qualify under my Department's Student Grant Scheme.

Tax relief provisions are available so that second and subsequent siblings do not have to bear the full cost. In addition, Higher Education Institutions have provisions in place to allow students to pay the contribution in two moieties.

In recognition of the financial pressures higher education institutions are under, an Expert Group chaired by Peter Cassells has been established to examine future funding options for higher education. The objective is to identify a range of approaches that, combined, will achieve a sustainable funding base to address the continual expansion of the sector while protecting the quality of education. The Group is due to report at the end of this year and its report will help inform decisions on future funding for the sector.