Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 October 2022
580. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the supports that he has in place for students who have paid repeat fees (details supplied); if they will be entitled to claim a refund as announced in budget 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50326/22]
View answerApplications to undertake a repeat period of study are made directly to individual higher education institutions. Higher education institutions are autonomous institutions as provided for in legislation and on that basis the management of the academic affairs including the criteria governing the level of repeat tuition fees to be charged are solely a matter for the relevant institution to determine in line with its own criteria. In this regard any repeat fees payable by a student will vary by institution.
As part of Budget 2023 the Government has approved a once off state support of €1,000 towards the student contribution payable by students eligible for free tuition fees under my Department’s free fees schemes in academic year 22/23.
In order to qualify for funding under the FFI, students must meet the criteria of the scheme including the progression and repeat year period of study criteria. Typically, students are not supported for a repeat period of study under the Free Fees schemes, however in exceptional circumstances, such as ill health or a student receives a leaving certificate upgrade on appeal, an exception may be allowed by the institution attended.
Where students do not qualify for free fees funding they pay the appropriate fee as determined by each higher education institution. In this regard the once off student contribution support of €1,000 cannot apply to students undertaking a repeat period of study that were not deemed eligible for the Free Fees schemes in 2022/23 by the institution attended.
Students in third-level institutions experiencing exceptional financial difficulty can apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund. This Fund assists students in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances. It is open to both full and part-time registered students on courses of not less than one year's duration leading to an undergraduate or postgraduate qualification. Information on the fund is available through the Access Officer in the third level institution attended. This fund is administered on a confidential, discretionary basis.
As part of the cost-of-living measures announced in Budget 2023 an additional €8 million has been invested in the Student Assistance Fund for the current academic year 2022/23.
More information on the SAF is available at studentfinance.ie.
