Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are autonomous bodies; responsible for establishing their own procedures for course transfers and determining if a student is repeating a period of study. In this regard, as the Deputy will appreciate, it is not possible for my Department to offer guidance on the repeat period of study arrangements that may apply for individual students, such as those that may apply in the case raised by the Deputy, or to intervene in the repeat period of study policy of the institution.

In relation to the Budget 2024 measure under reference, I can advise that the student contribution reduction applies to full time undergraduate students who are eligible for the free fees initiative (FFI) in the academic year 2023/24. In line with the progression criteria of the FFI, a student undertaking a repeat period of study, as determined by the institution attended, is not normally eligible to avail of free fees. Where students are not eligible for the FFI then the student contribution arrangements of the scheme do not apply, and instead students pay a repeat fee to the HEI attended.

As noted above, it is the HEIs themselves that determine if a student is undertaking a repeat period of study. I would encourage HEIs to have a responsive approach to student needs wherever possible. Where a student requires guidance or clarification on the fees that may apply to an academic year of study, they can contact the fees office of their institution for advice appropriate to their individual circumstances.