Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 May 2022
165. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to review the student contribution charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25304/22]
View answerI am committed 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 146,000 eligible higher education students and €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 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.
On May 4th I launched Funding the Future – the Government's policy response to the Cassells and DG Reform Reviews on the future of higher education. Funding the Future settles the question on funding Higher Education. The Government has decided that income contingent loans for fees will not form part of the future funding model. Instead, the Government is committing to a multi-funded model of additional Exchequer investment and employer contributions through the National Training Fund.
The policy sets out the vision and direction of higher education funding, our commitment to addressing legacy issues in higher education and detailing our ambitious plans for investment and reform. This includes:
- planned additional investment of €307 million to address core funding challenges for our institutions, that will be made over a number of years through annual budgetary processes. This does not account for future demographic needs or new policy proposals for higher education.
- Plans to consider options to address cost as a barrier to higher education, and how we will pursue funding measures on these issues through the Estimates process, including in respect of reductions to the student contribution and enhancements to the SUSI grant in line with the Student Grant Review.
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.
I intend to publish, during the Summer in advance of each year’s Estimates process, a paper outlining potential options and impacts, to be considered in the Budgetary process, related to the Student Grant scheme and other programmes related to student supports and costs of higher education, including with respect to those priorities identified in the Student Grant Scheme Review.
