Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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802. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for the omission of graduate-entry medicine students from lowered contribution fees for higher education students announced in budget 2023, during a time of a shortage of doctors and medical staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54151/22]

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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832. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will ensure students in graduate-entry medicine courses are included in the one-off €1,000 fee reduction. [55654/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 802 and 832 together.

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.

Students pursuing Graduate Entry Medicine programmes do so as second degree courses and consequently are not eligible for free fees funding or for student grants.

However, the State does provide support directly to higher education institutions for Graduate Entry Medicine programmes in order to widen access and assist the students pursuing these programmes. The balance of fees is payable by the student.

In July 2022, Government approved a proposal from my Department and the Department of Health to increase the number of medicine places per annum by 200 by 2026, and move the funding of medicine places to a more sustainable basis. This has included an increase of 60 in 2022/2023. 55 of these places are on direct entry programmes, and five are Graduate Entry Medicine.

For new Graduate Entry Medicine places, the State contribution will increase to €14,500 (from the current level of €11,950). For existing places, an increase in the State contribution will be phased in to this level.

It is important to note that this measure is designed to strengthen the sustainability of funding of Graduate Entry Medicine places and to increase the number of places on offer to Irish/EU students. The total level of fees charged to Graduate Entry Medicine students remains a matter for the higher education institutions, consistent with the principle of their institutional autonomy.

I am conscious that not all students are eligible for free fees or student grants and so, as part of the cost-of-living measures, I have allocated a further €8 million of funding for the Student Assistance Fund (SAF) for the current academic year. This Fund provides financial support to students who are experiencing financial difficulties while attending college and can provide assistance towards their rent, childcare costs, transport costs and books/class materials. It is open to both full and part-time registered students on courses of not less than one year's duration leading to an undergraduate or postgraduate qualification. Applications can be made under the SAF through the Access Office in a student’s third level institution.

Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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803. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the supports available to students to alleviate the high cost of the graduate-entry medicine programme at University College Dublin (details supplied); the plans in place to bring the fees down in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54152/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The total level of fees charged to Graduate Entry Medicine students is a matter for the higher education institutions, consistent with the principle of their institutional autonomy.  

Students pursuing Graduate Entry Medicine programmes do so as second degree courses and consequently are not eligible for free fees funding or for student grants.

However, the State does provide support directly to higher education institutions for Graduate Entry Medicine programmes in order to widen access and assist the students pursuing these programmes.  The balance of fees is payable by the student.

In July 2022, Government approved a proposal from my Department and the Department of Health to increase the number of medicine places per annum by 200 by 2026, and move the funding of medicine places to a more sustainable basis. This has included an increase of 60 in 2022/2023. 55 of these places are on direct entry programmes, and five are Graduate Entry Medicine.

For new Graduate Entry Medicine places, the State contribution will increase to €14,500 (from the current level of €11,950). For existing places, an increase in the State contribution will be phased in to this level. 

It is important to note that this measure is designed to strengthen the sustainability of funding of Graduate Entry Medicine places and to increase the number of places on offer to Irish/EU students.  The total level of fees charged to Graduate Entry Medicine students remains a matter for the higher education institutions, consistent with the principle of their institutional autonomy.

The Student Grant Scheme Review comments on the issue of Graduate Entry Medicine and states that a wider issue remains as to whether greater flexibility in the criteria for the student grant scheme could be considered in areas of critical skills shortage reflecting graduate entry routes. There are significant policy, legislative and funding considerations, as well as wider implications, if the current treatment of graduate entry medicine were to be amended. However, all elements of the review will be subject to consideration by my Department through the annual estimates processes.

The National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education (NAP) identifies target groups that are currently under-represented in higher education. These include entrants from socio-economic groups that have low participation in higher education who would not have considered attending higher education without such supports.  The Programme for Access to Higher Education (PATH) Fund is the funding mechanism established to implement the National Access Plan (NAP).   There are three strands to the Programme for Access to Higher Education (PATH).   Strand 2 provides bursaries (1916 Bursary) to students who have been identified by their higher education institution as being the most socio-economically disadvantaged students in the target groups under the National Access Plan. I have recently changed the rules so that students who hold a 1916 Bursary may continue their bursary if they wish to participate in Graduate Entry Medicine.

Students on Graduate Entry Medicine courses may also be eligible to apply to the Student Assistance Fund (SAF) for financial support. The SAF guidelines provide that students with a previous higher education qualification at the same NFQ level, or who, in the past, attended higher education without ultimately obtaining a qualification, may be considered for support on a case-by-case basis and subject to available funding. Details of this fund are available from the Access Office in the third level institution attended. This fund is administered on a confidential, discretionary basis.

In addition, tax relief at the standard rate of tax may also be available in respect of tuition fees paid for approved courses at approved colleges of higher education. Further information on this tax relief is available from a student's local Tax Office or from the Revenue Commissioners website, www.revenue.ie.