Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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527. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a person is entitled to tuition fees (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8109/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The fee payable by a student can vary depending on a variety of factors including the type of course and the student's access route. The assessment of a student’s application and the determination of the appropriate fee rate is a function of the institution attended.

In terms of tuition fee supports, first time students undertaking a full time undergraduate course may be eligible to have their tuition fees, exclusive of the student contribution, paid on their behalf via my Department's Free Fees Initiative. However, in order to qualify for funding under the Department's Free Fees Initiative, students must meet the criteria of the scheme, including with regard to previous education.

The scheme criteria include a provision that tuition fees will not be paid in respect of students pursuing a second undergraduate course. A key principle of the design of the free fees initiative is to encourage progression, that is, to support students in progressing through a chosen course of study from year to year. As a result, students who have previously undertaken and successfully completed an undergraduate course of study or obtained a higher education qualification are not eligible to undertake a new unrelated course of study and receive tuition fee supports under the FFI.

Additional information on free fees initiative is available at the following location: .

Where students do not qualify for free fees funding they must pay the appropriate fee as determined by each higher education institution. These institutions are autonomous bodies and the level of fee payable by students who do not meet the requirements of the free fees scheme is a matter for the relevant institution to determine. Where a student requires guidance on the determination of such fees it is necessary that a student engage with the fees office of the institution attended.