Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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511. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will ensure that the once-off €1,000 reduction in the student contribution fees for higher education students is applied to students studying outside this State, such as Northern Ireland and Britain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48383/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As part of Budget 2023 I have secured a significant cost of living package for third level students including a once-off €1,000 State financial support towards the undergraduate student contribution fee for higher education students eligible for my Department’s free fees schemes.

Students attending courses outside the State are not eligible for the free fees schemes and therefore the once off student contribution support of €1,000 in 22/23 cannot apply to students undertaking study in other jurisdictions.

The main support available to assist students with the cost of higher education is the Student Grant Scheme. 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. Students attending courses abroad can determine their eligibility for available supports at susi.ie/eligibility/income/.