Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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794. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of further reducing third-level student contribution charges to €1,000 in 2023-2024, and subsequently to abolish these fees in 2024-2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25723/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising matters in relation to the cost of supporting students with higher education costs.

I am acutely conscious of the challenges facing students and the need for the progressive implementation of measures to address cost as a barrier to education. I also recognise that costs are not limited to tuition fees payable by students and that students have real cost of living challenges such as fuel, food or accommodation and have specific costs associated with their courses such as books or materials.

In Budget 2023 we introduced a range of once off supports for students as part of the Government cost of living package for students including, for the 2022/23 academic year, a once off reduction of €1,000 in the student contribution payable by free fees eligible undergraduate students.

Separately, 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 payable by free fees eligible undergraduate students. I am also increasing the income limit for students to avail of the 50% student contribution grant. These measures mean that 42,500 to 50,000 extra students may be eligible for additional help towards paying the undergraduate student contribution once these measures come into effect.

The student contribution replaced the student registration fees levied by higher education institutions and, while the student contribution stands at €3,000 for academic year 2023/24, it is important to recognise that some free fees students will be eligible to have the student contribution paid in full (€3,000) or part (€1,500 or €500) through the aforementioned student grant scheme.

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. This will include estimated costs of options to reduce the student contribution. This is being worked on by officials in my Department and I will be pleased to provide the detailed estimates to the Deputy once available.