Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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616. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the exact process that will operate for the refund process as announced in Budget 2023 and the criteria for the refund of fees, in each third level institution; and if refunds are dependent on funds being deposited in each institution before refunds are paid to students. [51901/22]

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. This will assist students with the costs of attending higher education and will help alleviate some of the financial pressures which they and their families are facing.

The measure will reduce the student contribution payable by free fees eligible students from €3,000 to €2,000 in the 2022/23 academic year. This measure will benefit some 94,000 additional students.

It is anticipated that:

- Students who are paying their student contribution in two instalments will have the amount reduced from their next instalment by their institution during semester two.

- Students who have already paid their 2022/23 student contribution in full during semester one will receive a refund from their institution before the end of this year. Institutions will communicate with students directly on how the refund process for students who paid their full student contribution during semester one will operate.

A small number of refunds may need to be made in 2023 if there is a delay in students submitting the required payment details to their institution.

This measure is being implemented with the co-operation of Departmental agencies and the institutions themselves. I want to thank the Higher Education Authority, SUSI, the IUA, THEA, and the higher education institutions for all their assistance in bringing this much-needed support to students.