Eamon Scanlon (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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1376. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason some online full-time courses (details supplied) are no longer eligible for the €1,000 subsidy for student contribution fees, despite being eligible in previous years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2730/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Budget 2025 included a package of measures to support households with the cost of education. These measures include a €1,000 reduction in the student contribution fee for higher education students that are eligible for the Free Fees Initiative (FFI). This reduction followed on from similar once off student contribution reductions in Budgets 2023 and 2024 for free fees eligible students.

Higher education institutions are autonomous bodies, responsible for setting the tuition fee rates and determining policies that may apply to students undertaking any part-time, flexible or fully online programmes. These courses are not part of the Free Fees Initiative and therefore are not eligible to benefit from the €1,000 reduction in the student contribution fee introduced in Budget 2025.

In respect of the specific course to which the Deputy refers, I have been advised that some students may have benefitted in previous years from an administrative error in the institution. While the institution has decided not to seek recovery of back payments for previous years, it has rectified the error for the current academic year and notified students of the appropriate fees to be paid.

I am conscious that not all students are eligible for free fees or other supports such as SUSI grants. Students experiencing exceptional financial need may be eligible to apply for supports under the Student Assistance Fund (SAF) which has been supplemented by a further €10m under the cost of education supports in Budget 2025. Students in need of support, can apply to the Access Office in their higher education institution. This Fund assists students in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances.