Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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787. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to confirm that there will be an increase in dental training places at University College Cork dental school, in view of the substantial increase in population and need for additional dentists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9642/25]

Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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788. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to confirm that there will be an increase in dental training places at Trinity College Dublin dental school, in view of the substantial increase in population and need for additional dentists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9643/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 787 and 788 together.

My officials are working closely with the Department of Health to expand the healthcare workforce capacity of the country, including oral healthcare.

My Department does not place a quota on dental courses, and therefore the number of places offered is a matter for the higher education institutions, in line with their autonomy. However, I do acknowledge that due to a high level of practical work there can be material constraints on the number of students that can be accepted onto dentistry courses.

The provision of healthcare programmes is complex and involves many different parts of the system.?It is important that any increases in places are done in a sustainable way with an evidence based understanding of the future needs of the health system.

The Higher Education Authority (HEA) ran an exercise to identify options for the creation of additional capacity in a range of priority healthcare disciplines including Dentistry. A number of dentistry options were identified. Following recommendations received from the HEA, it was announced on 18th October 2024 that several universities will establish new programmes in areas of Dentistry, Medicine and Pharmacy. The programmes included support for a new Bachelor of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons (RCSI), which will train students in a community-based model of dental education, significantly increasing the number of dentistry training places available nationally and expanding access to dental services. This programme will provide at least 20 new dentistry places per annum for Irish/EEA students from 2025 onwards.

It is worth emphasising that my Department is not in a position to specify the workforce planning demand requirements for any discipline – this must come from the relevant line Department. It is my understanding that the Department of Health is commencing work on a workforce scoping project and skills assessment across the oral healthcare sector.

John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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789. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason full-time online students, who receive the same education and qualifications as on-campus students and who qualify for the €1,000 fee refund, remain ineligible for the SUSI grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9644/25]

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.

The main form of financial assistance available to higher education students is the Student Grant. Online and Distance Learning Courses, do not qualify for grant assistance under the Student Grant Scheme. My Department does however recognise the need to offer support for more flexible forms of learning and last year, for the first time, a new Part-Time Fee Scheme for Specified Undergraduate Courses was introduced to provide fee support to eligible part-time students attending specified publicly funded undergraduate courses leading to a major award. This includes specified in person and blended/hybrid courses. Its aim is to provide additional flexibility in respect of course provision to students who are socio-economically disadvantaged. The new scheme does not extend to fully online courses. My Department is fully committed to supporting flexible forms of learning, and will keep the policies surrounding support for part-time students under review.

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.