Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 October 2014
183. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount expected to be raised by the increase in the student contribution fee to €3,000 for the 2015-16 college year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38590/14]
View answerThe position is that the student contribution is payable by students who qualify under my Department's Free Fees Schemes. The Exchequer meets the cost of tuition fees, through my Department's free fees schemes, in respect of eligible full-time undergraduate students. It is estimated that some 129,200 students qualified for free fees in the 2013/14 academic year at a cost of some €310m. Some 50% of students who qualify for free fees have the student contribution paid on their behalf by the Exchequer under my Department's Student Grant Scheme.
