Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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1042. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if consideration will be given to the granting of interest-free loans to students entering a graduate programme in medicine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1328/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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My Department does not have a role in relation to the terms and conditions of loans which might be offered by lenders to students for particular purposes.  This is a matter between the relevant lenders and the students applying for such loans.

Neither does my Department have any plans to directly introduce a loan scheme for students of Graduate Entry Medicine.  However, the Deputy may wish to be aware that the State already provides support for broadening access to Graduate Entry Medicine programmes through the part-subsidy of fees for EU students.  This subsidy is paid to the higher education institutions via the Higher Education Authority.

The ‘Funding the Future’ funding and policy reform framework for higher education agreed by Government last May envisages a mixed funding model for higher education, comprising funding streams from the Exchequer, employer contributions and student contributions.

Within the framework of ‘Funding the Future’, my Department has been working to address the cost of provision of Graduate Entry Medicine by increasing the subsidy paid to higher education institutions.  It has been agreed that the State contribution towards Graduate Entry Medicine places will gradually be increased over a multi-annual period from a rate of €11,950 per student in the 2021/22 academic year to a new rate of €14,500.  The balance of fees, as determined by the institution attended, will remain payable by the student.

The Deputy may also wish to be aware that students on Graduate Entry Medicine programmes may be eligible to apply to the Student Assistance Fund (SAF) for financial support.  This Fund provides financial support to full and part-time students who are experiencing financial difficulties while attending college and can provide assistance towards their rent, childcare costs, transport costs and books/class materials. Applications can be made to this Fund through the Access Office in a student’s higher education institution.

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.

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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1043. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if consideration will be given to allowing graduate students entering medicine to be treated as undergraduate students in order that they may be eligible for the SUSI grant scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1329/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Students pursuing graduate entry medicine (GEM) programmes do so as second-degree courses and consequently are not eligible for free fees funding or for student grants. Under the progression criteria of the Student Grant Scheme, a grant will not be paid to a student for a repeat period of study on the same course, or for a different course at the same level, irrespective of whether or not a grant was paid previously. 

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, and it is not open to my Department to intervene in the tuition fee policy of the institutions.

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 appropriate tuition fees, as determined by the institution, 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 places 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. 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 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 mechanise 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.