Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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130. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he is taking to further reduce student contributions in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51363/22]

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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133. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if students can expect their student contribution fees to be further reduced beyond 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51625/22]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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141. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if those who are currently preparing to sit their Leaving Certificate in the next two years expect their student contribution fees to be further reduced beyond 2024 given the cost-of-living crisis and the increasing rates of rent being experienced by current third level students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51677/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 130, 133 and 141 together.

Under the Department’s Free Fees schemes, the Exchequer provides funding toward the tuition fee costs of eligible Irish and EU undergraduate higher education students who are pursuing approved full-time undergraduate courses of study in an approved higher education institution. All students eligible for the free fees schemes receive State support whereby the State pays the cost of tuition fees exclusive of the student contribution.

The student contribution applies annually to all free fees eligible students and the current rate is €3,000 per annum. The State pays the student contribution, in full or part, on behalf of students who qualify under the student grant scheme.

In Budget 2023, in recognition of the cost of living challenges faced by students paying the full student contribution fee, we have introduced a once off reduction of €1,000 in academic year 2022/23. This additional level of support towards tuition fees will benefit almost 94,000 students at a cost to the State of c.€95.6million net.

Furthermore, I have 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 State's contribution, is too high.

As part of Budget 2023, I made two changes to student contribution thresholds to reduce the cost of education for students and families (for college year 2023/24):

- increased the income limit from €55,240 to €62,000 for students to avail of the 50% Undergraduate Student Contribution;

- new support to the value of €500 for families on qualifying incomes earning between €62,000 and €100,000.

In May this year, I convened the Funding the Future Implementation and Review Group. Comprised of members of the Department, higher education sector and union and industry partners, the FFIRG is committed to addressing the questions of pathways and access to higher education. Financial barriers are clearly a large part of these issues and form core considerations for the FFIRG and its Working Groups.

I will continue to examine 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.