Donna McGettigan (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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2546. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost to abolish all postgraduate fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19770/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Higher Education Institutions are autonomous bodies responsible for their own academic affairs, including the setting of postgraduate tuition fee rates. The higher education tuition fee payable by a postgraduate student can vary depending on a variety factors, including the type of course and the fee rates of a particular institution.

To abolish postgraduate fee rates would remove an income source from higher education institutions and require the State to step in and meet the cost. My Department does not collate data on the postgraduate fees across the higher education sector. Therefore, the estimated cost of the State fully supporting all such fees is not available.

The State does provide supports to eligible postgraduate students who qualify for SUSI support. Details of these postgraduate grant supports are available at: www.susi.ie/eligibility-criteria/income/postgraduate-income-thresholds-and-grant-award-rates/