Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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1909. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he is aware of the fact that certain students have had their €1,000 fee refund revoked due to them attending class remotely; if he will instruct his Department to ensure that these refunds are reinstated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11435/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy may be aware that Budget 2025 included a package of measures to support households with the cost of higher 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).

The student contribution only applies in circumstances where a student is eligible for free fees; it is the student’s contribution towards their tuition fee within the terms of the FFI.

Where a course is not part of the FFI, including any flexible, part-time or online courses offered outside of the scheme, the student contribution towards free fees does not apply and instead students pay the applicable tuition fee to the higher education institution attended.

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. It is a function of each institution to advise students of the applicable fees that apply. It is not open to my Department to intervene in the fee policies of individual institutions.