Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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570. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of moving all part-time courses at public higher education institutes under the free fee initiative on a pro-rata basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50042/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Under the Department's Free Fees Initiative (FFI), the Exchequer pays tuition fees on behalf of eligible first-time undergraduate students attending approved full-time undergraduate courses. In order to qualify for funding under the Department’s Free Fees Initiative, students must meet the criteria of the scheme and be attending an approved course. Part-time courses are not approved courses under the Free Fees schemes.

As the Deputy is aware, Higher Education Institutions are autonomous bodies and are responsible for their own day-to-day management and operational affairs, including the management of academic affairs. They retain the right to determine their own policies and procedures. The total level of part time tuition fees, the courses offered, and the number of students enrolled on such courses are solely a matter for the relevant institution to determine in line with its own criteria. Part-time tuition fees are also subject to review by the institutions themselves. In this regard an estimated cost of the state fully supporting all such fees in not readily available.

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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571. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of reducing all non-SUSI postgraduate courses by €1,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50043/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, fee levels vary across the institutions, disciplines and mode of delivery.

Higher Education Institutions are autonomous bodies and are responsible for their own day-to-day management and operational affairs, including the management of academic affairs. They retain the right to determine their own policies and procedures. The level of postgraduate tuition fees to be charged, the postgraduate courses offered, and the number of students enrolled are therefore a matter for the relevant institution to determine in line with its own criteria.

Postgraduate tuition fees are payable directly to Higher Education Institutions. My Department is therefore not in a position to provide an estimated cost for reductions in such fees by the sector.