Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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131. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans in relation to student fees, and how reductions could be used to ease the cost-of-living for students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26718/23]

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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135. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the changes he intends to make to student fees in Budget 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26746/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 131 and 135 together.

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 or other registration fees payable by students. 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. 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 relation to undergraduate tuition fees, 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.

The Budget 2023 package included an increase in the Post Graduate Fee Contribution Grant (part of the Student Grant Scheme) by €500 on 2022 levels from €3,500 to €4,000 from September 2023. This measure will benefit postgraduate students who are eligible for a postgraduate fee contribution towards the cost of their tuition fees. That means postgraduate students whose reckonable income is up to €55,240 and who are not eligible for the special rate of grant will benefit.

In advance of Budget 2024, and as I did last year, I will be publishing an options paper which will set out various possible 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 providing additional tuition fee supports or tuition fee contribution costs, when making proposals in the context of budget discussions.