Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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525. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if all third level students regardless of their SUSI entitlements will be eligible for the €1,000 reduction in student contribution fees in 2022; and when and the way that this reduction will be rolled out. [52882/22]

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.

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.

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 2.

- 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.