Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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215. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for inclusion of graduate entry medicine within the free fee's initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26623/24]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) is one of the pathways to study undergraduate medicine. Graduate entry courses require applicants to hold a level 8 qualification prior to entry with the graduate entry medicine degree conferring a further level 8 qualification on the recipient.

As the Deputy will be aware, the free fees initiative (FFI) provides tuition fee funding for eligible first time undergraduate students. Therefore, students pursuing a second level 8 degree course, including graduate entry programmes, are not eligible for the FFI. There are currently no plans to amend the progression rules that apply in the FFI.

In terms of GEM tuition fees, the total level of fees charged to graduate entry medicine students is a matter for each higher education institution, consistent with the principle of their institutional autonomy. However, the State already provides support for broadening access to GEM programmes through the part-subsidy of places for EU students. The fees payable by students, as determined by each higher education institution, are net of the subsidy paid by the State.

The provision of accessible, affordable, high quality tertiary education to all learners, regardless of their background will continue to be a core priority for me and for this Government. In this regard, the Deputy will be aware of my intention to publish an options paper in advance of Budget 2025. This will set out various possible measures to reduce the cost of attending further and higher education for families. It will inform decisions with regard to various options to reduce the cost of education, including those related to fee supports.