Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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57. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to reduce costs for third level students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25739/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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I am very much aware that the rising cost of living continues to impact students and their families.

The Government, through successive budgets, has sought to reduce the cost of higher education including through improvements to the student grant scheme.

For the first time ever, a new part-time fee grant scheme came into effect in September 2024 for specified undergraduate courses. This new scheme will open the doors of higher education to many groups who cannot participate in full time programmes. For the 2025/26 academic year there will be 111 part time courses available to this cohort of students which is a significant increase on the first year reflecting the higher education sector’s positive response to flexible learning options and access routes. The eligibility for the scheme remains the same for the 2025/26 academic year.

Budget 2025 also ensured that measures to support students formed a core part of the Government's overall response to cost of living issues.

The following immediate once-off measures have benefitted current students:-

• Reduction to the student contribution fee by €1,000 which is estimated to have benefitted c.103,000 higher education students who were eligible for the free fees initiative,
• Increase to the postgraduate fee contribution grant from €4,000 to €5,000 for c. 2000 students.
• A once off 33% reduction to the student fee for 14,000 apprentices attending higher education institutes.
• A once off additional €10 million for the Student Assistance Fund.

• I am increasing the special rate of maintenance threshold from €26,200 to €27,400 in line with Social Welfare increases.
• I am increasing all other maintenance and student contribution grant thresholds by 15%.
• I am also increasing the postgraduate fee contribution threshold and the part-time fee scheme threshold to match the new 100% Student Contribution threshold which will now be €64,315.

• Allowing certain cohorts of people to apply for the grant by extending the list of approved immigration permissions;
• Ensuring that the first €5000 of any scholarship received by a student will not be included as income in the grant means test; and,
• Holiday earnings will also increase from €7925 to €8424 for the 25/26 academic year.