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Third Level Costs

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 July 2021

Thursday, 1 July 2021

Questions (334)

David Cullinane

Question:

334. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of an additional 100 undergraduate nursing places; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35637/21]

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Written answers

The Higher Education Authority (HEA) has a Recurrent Grant Allocation Model (RGAM) which allocates core recurrent funding to institutions. The grant is allocated as a block recurrent grant and the internal allocation of this grant is a matter for each institution.

In the case of nursing students, State grant and fees are paid separately from ring-fenced Nursing funding (i.e. nursing students are not included in the RGAM). The HEA currently pays a fee rate of €4,106 per eligible student and an average grant per student of c.€3,350. These students are liable to make payment of the Student Contribution of €3,000 annually. Eligible students may have the student contribution fully or partially paid on their behalf under SUSI.

Please find attached a spreadsheet detailing the estimated additional cost to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for increasing the number of undergraduate nursing places by 100 students.

Please note the following:

- The attached represents the estimated additional cost to the HEA (excluding the €3,000 student contribution – some students may be eligible to have this paid under SUSI) using an average cost of €7,500 per student per year. This represents an average of funding currently provided by the HEA for grant and fees for nursing undergraduate places

- The attached excludes any rostered placements salaries– the costs of this fall on the Department Health /HSE.

- There may be other costs that fall to the Department of Health/HSE.

- The attached shows just the cost for one cohort of an additional 100 nursing students.

Estimate cost per student

€7,500 per student per annum

100 students

Extra Enrolments

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Total

Estimated Cost

2021/22

100

100

€750,000

2022/23

100

100

€750,000

2023/24

100

100

€750,000

2024/25

100

100

€750,000

€3,000,000

Note: excludes €3,000 student contribution (which may be paid by SUSI) and other costs (e.g. rostered placements salaries) which may fall on Dept Health/HSE.

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