Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 December 2022
450. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 801 of 8 November 2022, when funding will be phased in for graduate entry medicine and if a reduction of student contribution fees is expected by September 2023. [60930/22]
View answer451. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 801 of 8 November 2022, if extra Government funding for universities, such as University College Dublin, will be ringfenced to ensure lower student contribution fees going forward. [60931/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 450 and 451 together.
The total level of fees charged to Graduate Entry Medicine students is a matter for the higher education institutions, consistent with the principle of their institutional autonomy.
However, as I outlined in my response to PQ No 801 of 8 November, the State does provide support to institutions for Graduate Entry Medicine programmes in order to widen access and assist the students pursuing these programmes. In this context, the fees of EU students enrolled in Graduate Entry Medicine are partly subsidised by the State via the Higher Education Authority. As of the 2021/2022 academic year, the State contribution towards Graduate Entry Medicine places was €11,950 per student per year. It has now been agreed that, for new places, the State contribution will increase to €14,500 per year while, for existing places, the level of State support will be increased to this level on a phased basis over a multi-year period. The balance of fees is payable by the student.
As the overall fee level for Graduate Entry Medicine is determined by the higher education institutions, the level of contribution by the student to the overall fee level is also a matter for the relevant institutions. It is not open to my Department to intervene in the tuition fee policy of the institutions.
