Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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1263. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a student that received a higher CAO offer in November 2020 after taking up a third-level course will be expected to pay first-year student contribution charges for both the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 academic years; the number of students it is anticipated will be impacted; the estimated cost to the Exchequer to waive the student contribution charge for these students for the 2021-2022 academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18106/21]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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For 2020/21 The normal CAO offer process ended in October 2020, therefore I take it the Deputy is referring to:

- first time undergraduate students who sat Leaving Certificate Examinations in November 2020;

- having started a course of higher education study in 2020 based on the calculated grades from Leaving Certificate 2020, and

- the student subsequently receives an uplifted deferred place offer for the 21/22 academic year (based on the 2020 CAO application) having sat the 2020 Leaving Certificate examinations.

I understand that 632 offers were made to students who received improved grades in the Nov/Dec Leaving Certificate exams (595 Level 8 offers and 37 level 7/6 offers). Students received offers in February and will choose whether or not to accept these offers in Round A of the CAO process, which takes place in July.

In relation to the student contribution, as the deputy is aware, 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 the student contribution.

The student contribution applies to all students on an annual basis, who are eligible under the free fees scheme and is payable to the higher education institution attended. 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.

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 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 advised, the student contribution applies to all students who are eligible under the 'free fees' scheme as the students 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 'free fees' on an exceptional basis such as a deferred uplifted place.

Additionally, in line with the Government Decision of 8th May 2020, Student Grant Scheme 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.

In terms of costings, my department does not have information on the number of students eligible for free fees funding or SUSI supports within the student cohort offered deferred CAO places in the scenarios outlined above.