Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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499. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which all refunds for students and apprentices as announced in Budget 2023 will be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57517/22]

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; and .

- once-off reduction of up to 33% in the contribution fee for apprentices.

These measures 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 reduction will be administered with the assistance of the higher education institution a student is attending.

Student Contribution - Free Fees Eligible Students

Free fees eligible 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 and the refund process has commenced. The HEI will contact eligible students and seek the necessary account details to process a refund.

When contacted by their HEI and asked to provide account details to facilitate a refund, students are required to provide the relevant details by 30 November 2022 to facilitate a refund in 2022. If a student has not provided the required details by the required date, the HEI may apply a credit to a student's account against any outstanding or future fees due.

Institutions will communicate with students directly on how the refund process for students who paid their full student contribution during semester one will operate.

Additional information is available on gov.ie: www.gov.ie/en/news/f20ab-budget-2023-1000-government-contribution-to-student-contribution-for-free-fee-scheme-students-in-academic-year-2022-to-2023/

Student Contribution - Apprentices

Institutions will contact all apprentices due a refund. Institutions will process the bulk of refunds by 31 December 2022 and any remaining refunds will be processed by 31 January 2023.

- Consortia-led apprentices: Institutions will apply an appropriate credit to the account of eligible consortia-led apprentice students as soon as practicable and before 30 November 2022. These apprentices do not need to contact their institution or apply for the credit. It will be automatically applied by the institution.

- Craft apprentices: Where craft apprentices have paid the full amount, institutions will provide a refund to craft apprentices. By 30th November 2022, craft apprentices should send their institution bank account details to receive a refund. This is to facilitate an electronic bank transfer before 31 January 2023. If a craft apprentice due a refund does not provide the required bank account information, the institution may need to provide a refund at a later date.

Additional information is available on gov.ie: www.gov.ie/en/news/de72c-budget-2023-guidance-for-institutions-on-once-off-13-contribution-to-apprentice-student-contribution-in-academic-year-2022-to-2023/