Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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1990.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to review correspondence (details supplied); if he will make a provision in budget 2025 for such a contribution; and if he will make a statement on the matter.[35004/24]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that the Government made provision to reduce the student contribution payable by each ‘free fees’ eligible student by €1,000 in academic years 2022/23 and 2023/24. Those reductions in Budgets 2023 and 2024, formed part of a wider cost of living package.

As I look ahead to Budget 2025, I am conscious of the need for the progressive implementation of measures to address cost as a barrier to attending higher education.

In advance of the Budget, I will be publishing an options paper which will set out various possible measures to reduce the cost of attending higher education for students. I will have regard to these options when making proposals regarding student supports in the context of budget discussions.

As the Deputy will appreciate, at this time it is not possible to provide an indication of any measures that may be introduced in Budget 2025.