Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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1992.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students from this State studying at further and higher education level in Britain in the academic years 2022/2023 and 2023/2024; the financial supports available for such students to meet fees and maintenance costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter.[35042/24]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The information requested by the Deputy on the number of students from this State studying at further and higher education level in Britain is not available within my Department.

Regarding the financial supports available for such students to meet fees and maintenance costs, the Student Grant Scheme provides maintenance grants to eligible undergraduate students pursuing approved courses in other EU Member States.

Grant funding is available to eligible students to pursue approved Postgraduate courses in four approved institutions in Northern Ireland.

The student grant scheme does not extend to the payment of tuition fees to institutions outside the State for undergraduate courses.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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1993.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to ensure that students studying outside the State are eligible for any additional supports that may be provided for third level students, such as a reduction in student contribution fees in the forthcoming budget, to ease the cost of living pressures; and if he will make a statement on the matter.[35048/24]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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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 Budget 2025, 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.

In considering the matters raised it is important to note that the student contribution arrangements in place under the free fees initiative (FFI) do not apply to any courses outside the State. In this regard the current student contribution arrangements, or any adjustments that may apply in the future, cannot apply where students study in another jurisdictions.