Under my Department's Free Fee Schemes the Exchequer meets the cost of tuition fees in respect of eligible full-time undergraduate students. Support is also available to eligible students under the Student Grant Scheme which may include maintenance, fees and student contribution. Funding is also provided to institutions for the Student Assistance Fund which assists students, who might otherwise, due to financial circumstances, be unable to continue their studies.
The Higher Education Authority, at my request, is undertaking a study on the future financing of the sector. An initial report was published which makes it clear that immediate work is required to prepare for a longer term approach towards 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 quality of education. This study is continuing and I will continue to be appraised as it progresses.