Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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294. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if all third level students who are attending publicly funded third level colleges are entitled to the €1,000 cut in student fees, regardless of their SUSI grant entitlements. [52524/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As part of Budget 2023, in recognition of the cost of living financial challenges facing full time third level students funded through my Department, 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.

The once off reduction of €1,000 relates specifically to the student contribution payable by students eligible for free tuition fees under my Department's free fees schemes in academic year 22/23 and will reduce the student contribution payable from €3,000 to €2,000 in 22/23. In this regard, all full time undergraduate students eligible for free fees and paying the student contribution will benefit from this measure.

As the 2022/23 academic year is only now getting underway, we do not have enrolment figures yet; however, I can advise the Deputy that in 22/23 it is estimated that over 149,000 Irish and EU full time undergraduate students will be eligible for free fees. This means that, in addition to the SUSI eligible students receiving a student contribution support, an estimated 94,000 free fees eligible students will benefit from this measure alone at a cost of c.€95.6million.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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295. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way that the reduction in student fees announced in Budget 2023 will be applied to students from this State who are currently studying in the North of Ireland. [52541/22]

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.

Courses provided in Northern Ireland are not approved courses under 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 Northern Ireland.

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 in Northern Ireland can determine their eligibility for available supports at .