Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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417. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps that he is taking to reduce the student registration fee for third level institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44700/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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On 5 September, in advance of the budget, I published, for the first time, a costs of education paper which will set out the possible policy options, and their indicative costs, to aid public discussion on how we should prioritise any interventions to address costs of education. The paper “Funding the Future, an annual options paper on reducing the cost of higher education can be found here: www.gov.ie/en/publication/28c9d-funding-the-future-an-annual-options-paper-on-reducing-the-cost-of-higher-education/

This paper is further step in deepening my commitment to the progressive consideration and implementation of measures to address costs as a barrier to education, within the overall context of Government policy towards costs of living and other relevant strategies including those related to access and participation in education.

I have already taken a number of significant steps in this regard, including major changes to the SUSI student support scheme and the elimination of participation fees for PLC courses from this September.

With this in mind, it is important to highlight the very substantial financial support, currently well in excess of half a billion euro, provided by the taxpayer towards tuition fees and the student contribution for students in higher education. This comprises State funding of tuition costs amounting to €357 million per annum for 146,000 eligible higher education students and €190 million paid by the Exchequer under the Student Grant Scheme in respect of all or some of the €3,000 student contribution which benefits over 65,000 eligible students.

It is important to recognise that the overall funding provided by the student contribution, which is shared between the students and families and the State, is a significant element of the income of our higher education institutions. The student contribution rate therefore requires consideration not just in the context of costs of education for families but also in terms of implications for the sustainable model of funding higher education.

I have, however, been clear and consistent in stating that I believe the value of the student contribution share, as paid by students and families compared to the states contribution, is too high and that a priority for me in the forthcoming Estimates process will be to seek a reduction for student and families with an increase in the funding provided by the state, particularly in the context of the cost of living challenges being experienced by families.

My policy position in this regard was articulated in Funding our Future, the Government's policy response to the Cassells and DG Reform Reviews on the future funding of higher education. Sustainable funding for the sector and measures to address the cost of education must proceed in tandem if we are to meet our ambition of improved outcomes for learners and the system as a whole.

As I look towards the next budgetary cycle, I will be examining all the levers I have to address the cost of education in a way that has impact for students and families and that applies broadly and fairly across society. Unfortunately at this time it is not possible to pre-empt the outcome or funding for student support measures in advance of Government's Budget 2023 announcement on 27 September.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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418. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason that a person (details supplied) has monies outstanding to Maynooth University; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44753/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Student Grant Scheme, administered by SUSI, provides grant assistance to students pursuing an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means.

I have been advised by my officials that the student outlined by the Deputy registered onto a course in the Technological University of Dublin (TUD), and, onto a course in Maynooth University in the 2021/2022 academic year. Where students are registered with a college and withdraw after 31 October and before the end of January, colleges are entitled to claim half the fees awarded. As the student in question did not withdraw from TUD until December 2021, TUD correctly made a claim to SUSI for half the fees awarded. SUSI does not have discretion in deciding to pay fee claims made by colleges. The onus is on the student to ensure that they withdraw correctly from a course onto which they have previously registered.

As things stand, this student’s full fee grant entitlement has been paid in accordance with the registration details received by SUSI and valid fee claims submitted by both colleges on the basis of the student having registered on both courses and not formally withdrawn or deregistered within the timeframe necessary to avoid a charge becoming due.

If the student in question were to request that TUD backdate their withdrawal date to an earlier date prior to 31 October 2021, the student could then notify SUSI who could request a refund from TUD, and, once fees were refunded, advise Maynooth to invoice for the outstanding balance.