Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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2081. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will ensure that additional financial support will be provided to reduce undergraduate student contribution fees for this academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39412/23]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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2082. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if measures are to be introduced to reduce undergraduate student contribution fees this year; if he will ensure that students studying outside of the State will receive such support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39413/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 2081 and 2082 together.

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, a new grant of €500 towards the undergraduate student contribution for free fees students is now available. I also increased the income limit for students to avail of the 50% student contribution grant. Information on the new €500 student contribution grant and other student supports are available on SUSI.ie.

In advance of Budget 2024, and as I did last year, I published an options paper setting 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, when making proposals in the context of Budget discussions.