Written answers

Wednesday, 31 March 2021

Department of Education and Skills

Third Level Fees

Photo of Gary GannonGary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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769. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 1127 of 24 March 2021, if he will consider waiving the student contribution fees for the small number of students to ensure they do not face financial penalties after being offered an uplifted deferred place for the 2021-2022 academic year based on the 2020 CAO application having sat the 2020 leaving certificate examinations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17598/21]

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Under the Department’s Free Fees Initiative (FFI), the Exchequer provides funding toward the tuition fee costs of eligible undergraduate higher education students. All students eligible for the scheme receive state support whereby the Exchequer pays the cost of tuition fees exclusive of the student contribution.

The contribution applies annually to all FFI eligible studentsand 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.

Under the terms of the FFI, funding is not typically provided for any repeat period of study, 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.

However, 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 FFI 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.

As noted above, the student contribution applies to all students who are eligible under the 'free fees' scheme as the student’s annual contribution towards tuition fees. This includes students that choose to transfer courses that will require a repeat period of study while retaining access to the FFI on an exceptional basis such as a deferred uplifted place.

Additionally, in terms of grant support, 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 certain exceptional circumstances. 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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