Written answers
Wednesday, 17 September 2025
Department of Education and Skills
Departmental Data
Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú)
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1413. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students ordinarily resident in the State who enrolled in third-level education institutions; the number of international students who enrolled in third-level education institutions in each of the past five academic years; the total revenue generated by the State from student fees during each of those years; the total revenue generated specifically from international student fees during each of those years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48184/25]
James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Higher Education Institutions are autonomous institutions responsible for their own academic affairs including the development of relevant curriculum, setting tuition fee rates, and student numbers on individual courses.
The fee payable by a student can vary depending on a variety of factors including the type of course and the student's access route. The assessment of a student’s application and the determination of the appropriate fee rate is a function of the institution attended.
Fee income forms part of the overall income generated by each higher education institution. Income sources can include state grants, research grants and contracts, EU funding, investment income, donations and endowments, and other income such as library, catering etc.
My Department does not compile information on the tuition fee income generated in the higher education sector. As such, the information that the Deputy has requested in not available. However, details of the various types of income generated by publicly funded higher education institutions are set out in their annual Financial Statements which are available to view on each institution’s website.
The table below outlines the student enrolment data from the Student Records System of the HEA and was sourced from their website, including a breakdown by domicile for the last five years available.
Domicile | 2019/2020 | 2020/2021 | 2021/2022 | 2022/2023 | 2023/2024 (incl. NCI) | 2023/2024 (excl. NCI) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ireland | 216,775 | 233,115 | 229,290 | 221,645 | 225,505 | 221,910 |
EU Other | 4,150 | 4,686 | 5,845 | 6,765 | 7,620 | 7,350 |
Northern Ireland | 1,670 | 1,750 | 1,735 | 1,660 | 1,685 | 1,670 |
GB | 1,365 | 1,745 | 1,520 | 1,465 | 1,440 | 1,415 |
Non EU | 22,300 | 18,330 | 22,545 | 25,245 | 29,560 | 27,450 |
Total | 246,260 | 259,626 | 260,935 | 256,780 | 265,810 | 260,070 |
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