Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

855. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to comment on recent suggestions that there will be no further reductions in student fees, which contrasts with the commitment to reduce the student contribution fee over the lifetime of the Government in the Programme for Government; if he can give reassurances that this commitment remains a priority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15759/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Programme for Government commits to reducing the student contribution in a financially sustainable manner, over the lifetime of this Government. As part of the cost-of-living packages in the last three budgets, the student contribution was reduced by €1,000 on a temporary basis, at a net cost of circa €99 million per annum. These measures were in response to particular cost of living challenges and were not intended to be a permanent solution.

It is worth extrapolating the figures in totality, a €1,000 reduction equates to nearly €100m, €2,000 reduction to almost €200m, a full abolition in the region of €300m per annum, equating to almost €1.5bn over a term of Government. These are significant figures and I am sure that the deputy would agree that there are competing priorities for these scarce resources.

In looking now at how we continue to address financial burdens for students and their families in a long-term and sustainable way, I am conscious that there are opportunity costs and trade offs associated with any policy option, and so we have to allocate resources in the most effective way possible.

Given the reality is that we have finite resources, I believe this should be done in a targeted way, to ensure that those students most in need will be supported.

In that context, it's important to say that many students and their families do not pay the student contribution because these costs are covered by SUSI grants. In the last academic year, over 43,000 students had their full contribution paid for through SUSI, over 7,600 students received a 50% contribution and more than 16,000 students had a €500 reduction through SUSI. Meaning in excess of 66,600 students in total, or almost half of all free fees students, had their student contributions paid in full or in part by the State.

In addition to those supports, my department paid out €368 million in the last academic year as part of the Free Fees Initiative, which benefited all eligible students, numbering some 143,000 all benefiting from fee supports from the State, and regardless of means.

Notwithstanding all above, no decisions have been made and we are still early in the budget cycle. I am very much open to views and stakeholder feedback and am inviting all interested parties to a cost of education event which I am holding this week.

I will be hearing from students, representatives of the student population, access officers, student services employees, people who work with students on a day-to-day basis, organisations who advocate for underrepresented students in education and policy makers. My aim is to provide an opportunity for all to have their say on the key cost of education issues.

After the event, I intend to publish an options paper, which will identify costs and potential impacts of various policy options aimed at reducing the cost of higher education. This will inform decisions ahead of Budget 2026.

I remain committed to easing the financial burden on students and families in a financially sustainable way.