Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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591. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the anticipated cost by year, by student, of a paramedic science degree course for the higher education institute and the Exchequer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9130/22]

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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596. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the average cost, per year and per student, of a pharmacy place for the higher education institute and the Exchequer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9157/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 591 and 596 together.

The Higher Education Authority (HEA) provided the following information to assist the Deputy with her query. 

Cost to the Exchequer

The HEA has a Recurrent Grant Allocation Model (RGAM) which allocates core recurrent funding to institutions. The allocation of the core grant is determined on a formula basis – based on a standard per capita amount in respect of weighted EU student numbers (and non-EU research) in broad subject price groups. Student numbers are weighted to reflect the relative cost of the subject groups. The standard per capita amount depends on the total level of funding received each year. Total available funding divided by total weighted student numbers equals the standard per capita amount. The model also takes account of research and access metrics.

The core grant is allocated as a block grant to cover core teaching and research activities within institutions. The internal allocation of funds as between teaching and research and across faculties and departments etc is a matter for each institution.

Students on pharmacyand scienceprogrammes are included and counted for funding purposes in the RGAM. In 2022 such students attracted c.€2,670 per student through the RGAM.  In addition,  eligible undergraduate students have their fees paid by the Exchequer, exclusive of the student contribution, under the Free Fees Scheme. The HEA pays c. €4,400 per eligible undergraduate pharmacy/science degree student in the university sector.

As referenced above, students are liable for the student contribution of €3,000. Eligible students may have the student contribution fully or partially paid on their behalf under SUSI.

Cost of provision

The estimated cost per student per year is as follows.

Pharmacy : c.€11,000 - €13,000 per student per year

Science: c €10,000 - €12,000 per student per year