Eoghan Kenny (Cork North-Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

709. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if an Irish citizen living outside the State returning home to attend the leaving certificate cycle, can avail of the rate of student fees of an Irish resident for third level education; the requirements which must be met to avail of these fees and not international fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67660/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The tuition fee payable by a higher education 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. The Deputy will appreciate that it is not possible for my Department to offer guidance on the fee arrangements that may apply for individual students.

In terms of tuition fee supports, first time higher education students undertaking a full-time undergraduate course may be eligible to have their tuition fees, exclusive of the student contribution, paid on their behalf via the Free Fees Initiative. To avail of funding under the initiative students must meet the criteria of the scheme including the residency criterion, available at

In order to meet the residency requirements of the Free Fees Initiative a student must have been ordinarily resident in an EU/EEA/Swiss/UK state for at least three of the five years preceding their entry to an approved third level course. All students are required to meet the residency criteria of the scheme preceding their entry to an approved third level course.

Where students do not qualify for free fees funding, they must pay the appropriate fee as determined by each higher education institution. These institutions are autonomous bodies and the level of fee payable by students who do not meet the requirements of the Free Fees Initiative is a matter for the relevant institution to determine. Typically, there are two rates of fee, an ‘EU’ and a ‘Non-EU’ (sometimes referred to an International) rate of fee for each course. The institution’s criteria typically include specified nationality and/or residency requirements that students would be expected to meet to qualify for the EU rate of fee.

As noted above, it is the individual higher education institution that assesses each student application and determines the applicable rate of tuition fee. Where a student requires clarification or guidance on the fee criteria of an individual institution, s/he can contact the relevant institution.