Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 January 2016
154. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of subsidising third level institutions in order that the student contribution charge is reduced to €500, €1,000, €1,500, €2,000, €2,500 or abolished altogether; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2454/16]
View answerBased on the number of students that qualified for free fees funding, and taking into account projections in student numbers, it is estimated that net cost to my Department of reducing the Student Contribution to €500 would be €170m; to €1,000 would be €136m; to €1,500 would be €102m; to €2,000 would be €68m and to €2,500 would be €34m. To abolish the contribution altogether would cost my Department €204m. The above figures take into account the resulting saving to my Department's Student Grant Scheme in the proposed reducing, or abolishing, of the student contribution.
