Donna McGettigan (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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420. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the full cost of phasing out student contribution charge over three years with first cut of 1500 (but netting off 500 euro SUSI support); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28033/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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The potential cost of adjusting the student contribution under the Free Fees Initiative may vary from year to year, depending on the number of eligible students attending higher education, and the number of students qualifying for student contribution supports from SUSI. These variables make it difficult to estimate the potential cost over a three-year period.

The €500 student contribution fee grant is one of several fee grant supports that eligible students can avail of, depending on their means. The estimated net cost of reducing the student contribution will impact on each of the student contribution fee grants paid by SUSI.

The Deputy will be aware my Department published an Options Paper in 2024 where the potential costs of reducing the student contribution in a single academic year were set out. In the paper it was estimated that a €1,500 reduction would cost €148.6m per annum, a €2,250 reduction would cost €222.9m, and the removal of the €3,000 student contribution would cost €288.9m. These are the additional costs to the State after allowing for savings that would accrue on the SUSI scheme.

Ahead of Budget 2026, I intend to publish the 2025 Options Paper. This 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.