Joe Neville (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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59. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his Department's efforts to further reduce the burden on families who have to pay for their children's further education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26322/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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I am committed to breaking down cost barriers and to making further education and training (FET) more accessible than ever before. FET courses are free or heavily subsidised. My Department also provides direct financial supports to eligible learners.

Learners in receipt of social welfare transfer to a FET training allowance when participating in certain courses. The rate depends on an individual’s social welfare payment. A learner over 18 years old who was in receipt of Jobseeker’s or Supplementary Welfare Allowances will transfer to a FET training allowance of at least €244 per week for an individual. Additional payments may also be received for any qualifying dependants. Those under 18, with no social welfare entitlement, may receive up to €45 per week.

Learners with underlying social welfare entitlements may keep secondary benefits, such as medical cards, and may receive fuel allowances, Christmas bonuses or other one-off payments linked to their social welfare status. Budget 2025’s Cost-of-Living measures were applied to FET learners with underlying social welfare entitlements.

Supplementary allowances for food, travel or accommodation may also be available.

Some Education and Training Boards have a Learner Assistant Fund to support learners facing hardship.

Learners on Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) courses do not receive training allowances but, if eligible, may qualify for SUSI maintenance grants of up to €7,586 per year. Recipients will benefit from any increases in the maintenance grant and income thresholds for SUSI grants. Budget 2022 abolished the €200 PLC Levy from the 2022/23 academic year. Subsequent budgets secured €3 million to move towards abolishing other fees associated with PLC courses.

Ahead of Budget 2026, I will publish an options paper, which will identify costs and potential impacts of various policy options aimed at reducing the cost of further and higher education and this paper will inform future decision-making.