Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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216. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of providing 100 higher education places for students not eligible for the free EU fees scheme. [31188/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy may be aware, in order to qualify for funding towards tuition fees, students must be first-time undergraduates, hold inter alia EU/EEA/Swiss nationality in their own right, and have been ordinarily resident in an EU/EEA/Swiss state for at least three of the five years preceding their entry to an approved third level course.

Where students do not qualify for free fees funding they must pay the appropriate fee - either EU or Non-EU, as determined by each higher education institution.  These institutions are autonomous bodies and the level of fee payable by students who do not meet the requirements of the free fees scheme is a matter for the relevant institution.

The estimated average cost of providing higher education provision is approximately €10k per student per annum therefore total cost for an additional 100 places is approximately €1m. The Deputy should note that as course fees may vary considerably between institutions, the cost provided is an average cost taken from across the sector.  

This cost per student is comprised of a Student Contribution of €3,000 per annum which is paid for by the student.  The balance of funding per student eligible for free fees is met by the exchequer.