Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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100. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if measures are to be introduced to reduce undergraduate student contribution fees this academic year; if he will ensure that students studying outside of the State will receive such supports, as requested previously by this Deputy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40699/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Under the FFI, the State provides funding toward the tuition fee costs of eligible undergraduate higher education students attending an approved course. Funding under the Free Fees Initiative is only available in respect of approved courses within the State.

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 grant 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 www.susi.ie.

During August, in advance of Budget 2024, I published an options paper setting out various possible measures to address the cost of education. The various options set out in this paper will inform the deliberations regarding cost of education measures in Budget 2024.

In relation to support available for students studying abroad, as previously noted, the Free Fees Initiative and the student contribution arrangements do not apply. Instead, students pay the applicable tuition fee to the higher education institution attended.