Written answers

Wednesday, 24 March 2021

Department of Education and Skills

Third Level Fees

Photo of Rose Conway-WalshRose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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1149. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if students that enrolled in third-level courses prior to sitting the leaving certificate in November 2020 will be refunded the fees paid; if it will impact their access to the free fees initiative and SUSI supports in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15228/21]

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are governed by the Universities Act 1997, the Institutes of Technologies Acts 1992 to 2006 and the Technological Universities Act 2018. Within the meaning of these Acts, HEIs are autonomous bodies and are responsible for their own day-to-day management and operational affairs including dealing with policy and procedure in relation to fee collection or fee refunds. Should a student choose to depart a course of study during the academic year they may be entitled to a refund or partial refund of fees paid depending on the fee policy of the institution they were attending.

Under the Department’s free fees schemes, the Exchequer provides funding toward the tuition fee costs of eligible undergraduate higher education students with students paying a student contribution. The student contribution applies to all students on an annual basis, who are eligible under the 'free fees' scheme. The current rate is €3,000 per annum. Currently in excess of 60,000 students have all or part of the student contribution paid on their behalf by the State via the Student Grant Scheme.

To satisfy the terms and conditions of the Free Fees Schemes in relation to progression, a student must be moving from year to year within a course having successfully completed the previous year or be transferring from one course to another related course where the award for the subsequent course is of a higher level than the previous course.

Typically students are not supported for a repeat period of study under the free fees initiative, however in exceptional circumstances, or where a student receives a Leaving Certificate uplifted offer from their original CAO application following an appeal, an exception may be allowed.

Cognisant of the leaving certificate 2020 process, an extension to the current scheme allows for a repeat period of study in 21/22 where a Free Fees eligible student receives an uplifted deferred place having sat the 2020 exams. This extension applies to students that started in year one of an undergraduate course in 20/21 based on 2020 calculated grades and the student subsequently receives an uplifted deferred place for the 21/22 academic year (based on the 2020 CAO application) having sat the 2020 Leaving Certificate examinations. Free fees eligible students who transfer courses in 2021/2022, in the circumstances outlined, will remain eligible for free fees for the 2nd period of study.

Under Article 15(8) of the Student Grant Scheme 2020, the awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) has discretion to award a grant for a repeat period of study in exceptional circumstances which impacted on a student completing a particular period of study or undertaking exams in line with guidelines drawn up by the Minister. The Student Grant Scheme and Student Support Regulations and associated guidelines for the 2021/22 academic year will be published towards the end of March/early April 2021. The opening of SUSI's online grant application system will coincide with the publication of the scheme. Grant applications are submitted online via www.susi.ie. Further information in relation to student grant assistance is also available from this website. The telephone number for SUSI’s Helpdesk is 0761 087 874. 

In line with the Government Decision of 8th May 2020 Candidates shall remain eligible to apply for grant support in respect of a repeat period of first year study in 2021/22 academic year, if they meet all of the following criteria:

- received Leaving Certificate predicted grades in 2020;

- opted to sit the 2020 Leaving Certificate examinations;

- received an improved CAO offer on foot of these Leaving Certificate examinations results to start their course in the 2021/22 academic year; and

- choose to accept that improved CAO offer.

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