Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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166. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the merits of creating a student finance model that would provide interest free loans to students that do not qualify for SUSI grants, to support the associated costs of attending third level education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34393/26]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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I recognise the importance of and am committed to reducing barriers to participation in higher education. In that context, it is important to recall that the question of student loans was examined in detail as part of the Review of the Funding Allocation Model for Higher Education (the Cassells Report). Following that review, the decision of the Government was not to introduce an income-contingent loan scheme, but instead to prioritise a mixed funding model through enhanced Exchequer investment, employer contributions through the NTF and a reduced reliance on student contributions, which I am committed to delivering on through the Programme for Government.

In addition I have delivered on increasing targeted student supports, in particular through the SUSI grant system. I have requested my officials to examine a range of options in relation to student fee supports to minimise barriers to participation in higher education. Improvements to the student grant scheme has been a priority for me and this Department and we have made many improvements benefitting thousands of students. Budget 2025 enabled me to increase all income threshold limits and I was delighted in Budget 2026 to increase all non-adjacent maintenance grants.

I fully recognise the significant financial pressures facing students, particularly those on Graduate Entry Medicine programmes, and the importance of ensuring that finance is not a barrier to accessing third-level education.

The Programme for Government includes a commitment to introduce tuition fee supports for Graduate Entry Medicine. I have tasked my officials to work closely with colleagues in the Department of Health to progress this commitment in a constructive and practical way, with a focus on affordability, sustainability and the long-term medical workforce needs of the State.

It is important to note that substantial State support is already provided for Graduate Entry Medicine. The Exchequer part-subsidises tuition fees for GEM places across all institutions, and recent Budget measures have significantly increased the value of this subsidy - rising from €11,950 per student in 2021/22 to €16,930 for all graduate entrants from 2026, representing approximately €13 million in annual public funding. This significantly reduces the costs faced by students, with the remaining fee levels determined by higher education institutions.

In addition, GEM students may access a range of existing supports, including the Student Assistance Fund, National Access Plan bursaries, tax relief on fees and rent, the Fund for Students with Disabilities where eligible, and the continued availability of the 1916 Bursary for eligible students progressing to GEM.

I have asked my officials to examine a range of potential future support models, including financial and incentive-based approaches, such as State-backed loans, as part of cross-Government work. This includes considering how any further measures might support both affordability and the retention of graduates within the Irish public health system. No decisions have yet been taken, and any proposal would require careful consideration and budgetary approval.