Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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91. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if student fees will be maintained at the level of €2,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15734/23]

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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256. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills whether students will have to pay full student fees for the 2023-24 academic year; if there is any reduction in costs for students not in receipt of a grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15815/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 91 and 256 together.

As part of the cost of living response in Budget 2023, I prioritised the introduction of a significant package of measures to directly support students and their families. These measures included, for the 2022/23 academic year, a once off reduction in the student contribution.

I have been clear that I want to see the student's contribution towards tuition fees in higher education reduce in a meaningful way over the course of future budgets. In this regard I was pleased to secure Government agreement to the introduction of a permanent new rate of student contribution support through SUSI from September 2023.

For students whose families have incomes between €62,000 and €100,000, there will be a new grant of €500 towards the undergraduate student contribution for free fees students. I am also increasing the income limit for students to avail of the 50% student contribution grant. These measures mean that up to 50,000 extra students may be eligible for additional help towards paying the undergraduate student contribution.

In advance of Budget 2024 this autumn, and as I did last year, I will be publishing an options paper which will set out various measures to address the cost of education. I am doing this in order to facilitate public discussion on the various choices available to amend student supports. I will have regard to these options, including any options in respect of reducing tuition fee or tuition fee contribution costs, when making proposals regarding student supports in the context of Budget discussions later in the year.