Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 April 2022
1177. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans for reviewing fees at third level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19713/22]
View answerI am commited to the progressive implementation of measures to address costs as a barrier to education, within the overall context of Government policy towards costs of living and other relevant strategies including those related to access and participation in education.
It is important to highlight the very substantial financial support, currently well in excess of half a billion euros, provided by the taxpayer towards tuition fees and the student contribution for students in higher education.
This comprises State funding of tuition costs amounting to €357m per annum for 156,000 eligible higher education students. It also includes €190m paid by the Exchequer under the Student Grant Scheme in respect of all or some of the €3,000 student contribution which benefits over 65,000 eligible students.
The level of financial support highlights the Government's commitment to supporting students in meeting the costs of higher education and to obtaining higher education qualifications which the evidence demonstrates will assist them in securing more sustainable and higher paid employment than those in the labour force who do not benefit from such qualifications.
I am very conscious of the difficulties that students, like so many others in society, face as a result of the increased costs of living. For students and their families this includes not just costs such as accommodation and food but also education-specific costs such as tuition fees and the student contribution. The Government as a whole is committed to addressing issues related to the cost of living.
I have already taken significant steps to support learners and their families. Effective from the start of the next academic year the rate of grant will be increased by €200 for all SUSI recipients, I have widened the thresholds to allow more people to apply for student grants and I have changed the distance thresholds to reflect the increased costs for those who live further away from their colleges.
I have also put significant additional resources into the Student Assistance Fund, including an additional €1.3 million recently announced, which brings the fund to €18.5m for the current academic year.
However, the SUSI scheme clearly does not cover everybody, and there are many families who must pay out significant amounts of money each year to continue in third level education.
There are different options to address the costs of education, including adjusting the student contribution or increasing SUSI thresholds, but fundamentally these are decisions which must be made in the context of the annual Estimates process.
The student contribution costs as shared between the students and the state is a significant element of the overall income of our higher education institutions. In this regard the student contribution rate requires consideration in the context of a sustainable model of funding for higher education.
As I look towards the next budgetary cycle, I will be examining all the levers I have to address the issue in a way that has impact for students and families and that applies broadly across society.
