Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 July 2016
266. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of subsidising third level institutions if the student contribution charge were reduced to €0, €100 or €250; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22336/16]
View answerBased on the number of students that qualified for free fees funding in the academic year 2014/15, and taking into account overall expected increases in student numbers, it is estimated that the net cost to my Department of reducing the Student Contribution to €0 would be €204m; to €100 would be €197m and to €250 would be €187m.
The above figures take into account the resulting reduction to my Department's Student Grant Scheme budget.
