Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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263. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if students that are repeating a year and are therefore not covered by the free fees' initiative are eligible for the €1,000 fee reduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54066/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As part of Budget 2023, the Government has approved a once off State support of €1,000 towards the student contribution payable by students eligible for free tuition fees under my Department’s Free Fees schemes in academic year 22/23.

Where students do not qualify for Free Fees funding they pay the appropriate fee as determined by each higher education institution. In this regard the once off student contribution support of €1,000 cannot apply to students undertaking a repeat period of study that were not deemed eligible for the Free Fees schemes in 2022/23 by the institution attended.

In considering the above position it is important to highlight that, while students are not typically supported for a repeat period of study under the Free Fees schemes, an exception may be allowed where a student provides evidence of exceptional circumstances and the institution determines that a waiver is appropriate.

This would generally apply where a student could not complete the period concerned or complete the previous course due to exceptional circumstances such as cases of certified serious illness or injury. The assessment of a student’s eligibility to access free fee supports takes place within the institution attending and it is a matter for the institutions to establish the appropriate processes to decide upon the suitability of applying an exceptional circumstances waiver.

It is necessary for a student to engage with their institution at an early point in time and make an application for the exceptional circumstances waiver.

Additionally, students in third-level institutions experiencing exceptional financial difficulty can apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund. This Fund assists students in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances. Information on the fund is available through the Access Officer in the third level institution attended. This fund is administered on a confidential, discretionary basis.

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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264. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the procedure through which degrees in early childhood education and education studies in a not-for-profit college (details supplied) are excluded from the free fees system; if he will consider an application for inclusion from the college; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54071/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Under the Free Fees Initiative, tuition fees are paid in respect of eligible full-time undergraduate students undertaking approved courses in eligible institutions.

Free Fees funding has been extended to a limited number of courses in not-for-profit private institutions, where specific learning or skills needs have been identified. In Marino Institute of Education, Free Fees approved courses, funded through the Department of Education, include the Bachelor in Education (Primary) and Bachelor in Education (Primary through the medium of Irish).

Marino Institute of Education has sought Free Fees approved status for two additional courses established by the Institute. These are the Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education and Bachelor of Science in Education Studies.

It is important to note that, as a private institution, the development of a course by Marino Institute of Education does not, in its own right, give rise to provision of funding from my Department or from any other Department or State agency.

In general, the extension of Free Fees funding to additional courses in private institutions only applies where a specific teaching and learning need has been identified by the Department, another Department or the HEA.

My Department has agreed to consider the application for Free Fees status for the courses under reference in conjunction with the Higher Education Authority and with other relevant Government Departments, i.e. the Department of Education and Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.

This will require, inter alia, consideration of the alignment of the courses with identified skills needs, the extent to which skills needs are already addressed by courses in the wider higher education system, and budgetary implications. It is our intention that this consideration will be completed by Q1 2023, ahead of the academic year 2023/24.

Approved courses under the Free Fees Initiative for 2022/23 are finalised and it is not possible to include additional courses for the current academic year.