Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

498. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the average cost to the State of a place on an undergraduate course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27888/24]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department allocates funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to designated higher education institutions (HEIs). The HEA provides block grant funding to the HEIs, from within the allocation available, through the Recurrent Grant Allocation Model (RGAM) which is driven by overall student numbers. The grant is allocated as a block grant and the internal allocation is a matter for each institution.

It is also important to note that HEIs are autonomous bodies as set out in legislation, as such the management of the academic affairs, including the curriculum and instruction and education provided are generally matters for the relevant institution. In this regard it is open to individual institutions to increase the number of places offered at undergraduate level without an increased cost to the Exchequer necessarily arising.

The costs incurred by a HEI in increasing student places on a particular course can vary depending on a variety of factors including the type of course and the individual circumstances of the relevant institution. It is therefore not possible to definitively calculate the cost requested by the Deputy.

However, to provide the Deputy with an indication of the potential costs associated with increased places, the HEA has advised that based on 2023-24 academic year data, it is estimated that the cost to the Exchequer (recurrent grant and tuition fees) of funding a place on a full-time undergraduate programme of study is currently in the region of €6,000 – €7,000.

Please note the following:

• The approximated amount represents the estimated additional cost to the HEA (excluding the €3,000 student contribution – some students may be eligible to have a part or all of this paid by the Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) at an additional cost to the Exchequer).
• There are other costs that fall to the State, e.g. student supports – SUSI grants, etc.
• This amount excludes other additional funding which may arise or may be met by other agencies and Departments supporting the provision of undergraduate programmes of study.