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Third Level Fees

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 September 2013

Wednesday, 18 September 2013

Questions (343, 388, 389, 408)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

343. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has considered alternative models of student contribution towards higher level course provision; if he is concerned that access to higher level is still a major issue for many young persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37982/13]

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Seán Kyne

Question:

388. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the deferred payment model via loans or otherwise as a method of financing third level education which operates in other OECD countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38358/13]

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Seán Kyne

Question:

389. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will report on the progress of the Higher Education Authority's study on the sustainability of the third level funding system; and the date on which this review will be published. [38359/13]

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Andrew Doyle

Question:

408. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Education and Skills if consideration has been given within his Department in the past two and a half years regarding a student loan system, as opposed to the college grant system; if such a student loan system would be State funded; if his attention has been drawn to the substantial number of families who are currently over the threshold of the current grant system and are struggling to pay college costs; if his attention has been drawn to the student loan system operating in the UK; if he will examine a sustainable loan repayment system for Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38571/13]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 343, 388, 389 and 408 together.

As the Deputy will be aware the student contribution, which currently stands at €2,500, is payable by students who qualify under the free fees schemes. Students who qualify under my Department's student grant scheme have the contribution paid on their behalf by the Exchequer.

Conscious of financial pressures on families tax relief provisions have been put in place so that second and subsequent siblings do not have to bear the full cost. An additional category of "50% Student Contribution" is also available under the student grants scheme to assist in meeting the cost. Institutions, at my request, have provisions in place to allow students to pay the contribution in two moieties.

The question of introducing fees allied to an income contingent loan scheme has been identified previously, including in the Hunt report, as a means of addressing future funding issues in the sector while retaining free access at the point of entry. A technical report on options for the development of such a scheme was developed by my Department in 2009 and is published on my Department's website.

The HEA is undertaking a study on the sustainability of the current funding system for higher education. This study was initiated at my request and an initial report has been published. This report makes it clear that immediate work is required to prepare for a longer term approach to a system that can be maintained through a sustainable funding base which will be able to address the continual expansion of the sector while protecting the quality of education. The HEA is continuing its work in this area and I will be advised further as this work progresses. The report will help inform decision-making as to the future funding of the sector.

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