Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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525. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason that students who have to repeat a year during their degree course will not be able to avail of the reduced registration fees when doing so; the rationale for discriminating against repeat students like this who already face the added expenses involved in having to repeat such years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58752/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Under my Department’s free fees schemes, the Exchequer provides funding towards the tuition fee costs of eligible undergraduate higher education students with students paying the student contribution.

A key principle of the free fees schemes is to support students in progressing through a chosen course of study from year to year. Typically students are not supported for a repeat period of study or for a different course at the same level under the free fees schemes. However, once an equivalent period of study has been completed on the new course, the student may be eligible for free fees funding for the remainder of the course. An individual student's eligibility for the scheme is assessed by the institution in accordance with the terms of the scheme.

As part of Budget 2023 the Government has approved a once off reduction of €1,000 in the student contribution payable by students eligible for free tuition fees under the Department free fees schemes in academic year 22/23.

The student contribution, payable by free fees eligible students, is determined by Government. The Budget 2023 measure is a once off amendment to the current scheme and applies equally to all free fees eligible students.

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.

Where undergraduate students do not meet the qualifying criteria of the free fees schemes, they are required to pay tuition fees in full to their higher education institution. It is a matter for the higher education institution as an autonomous body to determine the applicable fee rate for students.

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.