Eoghan Kenny (Cork North-Central, Labour)
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61. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the engagements he has had with an organisation (details supplied) since August 2025 with regard to Budget 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56051/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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I am acutely conscious of the financial challenges facing students and the need for the progressive implementation of measures to address costs as a barrier to education.

Since taking up office earlier this year, I have met with AMLÉ on three occasions, 31st March, 3rd April during our Stakeholder event and 17th June, 2025. Last month I also met with representatives from fifteen Student Unions from various Higher Education Institutes as part of an intensive round of pre-budget meetings.

In September, I received a Pre-Budget Submission from AMLÉ which covered a broad range of areas. This submission was considered as part of the Budget 2026 deliberations and I was pleased to announce a number of significant improvements in Budget 2026 that will provide permanent support to reduce the cost of education for students and their families.

Students this academic year are benefitting from Budget 2025 which increased all income thresholds to avail of a student grant including increasing all standard rate thresholds by at least 15%.

In addition I have:-

• reduced the student contribution charge permanently by €500 commencing this academic year which will benefit c108,000 students;
• Increased all non-adjacent maintenance grant rates with c30,000 students this academic year seeing a pro-rata increase of between €111-239;
• increased the Post Graduate Fee Contribution Grant by €500 from €4,000 to €4,500 benefitting over 2000 students.

• Non-Adjacent Special Rate increasing by €350
• Band 1 Non-Adjacent Rate increasing by €430
• Bands 2-4 Non-Adjacent Rates increasing by €200