Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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36. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if, in view of the Union of Students in Ireland survey (details supplied) showing 87% of students feared leaving third level education due to the cost of education, he will implement policies to reduce the cost of education for students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28387/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The Future Funding of Third Level Education including the charges and supports to students has been considered by an Expert Group chaired by Peter Cassells.

In line with the commitment in the Programme for Government I have referred the expert group's report to the relevant Oireachtas Committee with a view to obtaining political consensus on achieving a sustainable funding model for the higher education sector in the future.

In addition the Programme for Government contains a commitment to increase financial support for postgraduate students with a particular focus on those from low income households and to review the barriers to lone parents accessing higher education. Options in both of these areas are under review.  

A major objective set out in the Action Plan for Education is to increase by 30% entrants from groups which have traditionally low participation in higher education.  Any future funding model will need to deliver on this and other objectives for our higher education system. 

My Department provides a suite of supports that are intended to assist students from disadvantaged backgrounds, and other under-represented groups, to overcome financial barriers to accessing and completing higher education.

In 2015/16 my Department spent €414million on such financial supports.

More than 80,000 students were supported under the Student Grant Scheme last year, at a cost of approximately €380 million. A similar number of students will benefit this academic year.

Some 15,000 students were assisted in 2015/16 through the Student Assistance Fund, at a cost of €6.34m.

In addition, 10,500 students were provided with additional supports through the Fund for Students with Disabilities, at a cost of €10.4m.

My Department also provides scholarships and bursaries to students from disadvantaged backgrounds. In 2015/16, over 450 students benefitted at a cost of €1.5m.