Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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593. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to extend the free fees scheme to students attending part-time courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51732/22]

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.

In the context of limited public funding and competing priorities, Free Fees funding is currently targeted at full-time students undertaking study on an approved course in approved publicly funded institutions; part-time courses are therefore not approved courses under the Free Fees schemes.

In considering the feasibility of introducing a scheme to provide for free tuition fees for part-time learners, it is important to note that 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 there are significant policy, legislative and funding considerations in introducing a new measure to support part-time students.

In May, I published Funding our Future, the Government's policy response to the Cassells and DG Reform Reviews on the future funding of higher education. I identified the need to address cost as a barrier to higher education. Funding measures will be pursued through the Estimates process and the Deputy will be aware that I have already introduced a significant package of measures to support students as part of Budget 2023. 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.

In the medium term, a focus on lifelong learning, supporting part-time and blended provision and micro-credentials will facilitate the ongoing adaptation of skills to areas of particular need and allow more flexible access by more diverse learners to higher education.

Through Funding the Future we identify five priority strands of work on which progress will be made. Strand 5 will consider options to address costs as a barrier to higher education and improve student supports. Work under this strand will inform the progressive 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. Subject to resources available to the Department, I intend to do this through enhancement of student supports and annual reviews of the cost of going to higher education. Measures in this area will take account of the strategic priorities set out in the Student Grant Scheme Review, including increasing supports for postgraduate study. Over time, the annual options assessment will consider progress on strategic priorities, including the extension of supports to enable more flexible forms of learning including blended/online and part-time.