Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 June 2023
1336. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 940 of 23 May 2023, if he will provide the full-and first-year cost to the Exchequer from the one-off reduction in the student contribution fee that was enacted in the academic year 2022/2023 as part of the cost-of-living response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27076/23]
View answerAs part of Budget 2023, in recognition of the cost of living financial challenges facing full time third level students funded through my Department, I secured a significant cost of living package for third level students. This included a once-off €1,000 state financial support towards the undergraduate student contribution fee for higher education students eligible for my Department’s free fees schemes in academic year 2022/23.
When the measure under reference was introduced, it was estimated that over 149,000 Irish and EU full time undergraduate students may be eligible for free fees. This means that, in addition to the SUSI eligible students receiving a student contribution support, an estimated 94,000 free fees eligible students may have benefited from this measure alone at a cost of c.€95.6million in 2022.
Higher Education Institutions received initial funding to allow the provision of refunds based on estimated student numbers. Final student numbers eligible for free fees in 2022/23 and a reconciliation of the funding provided to each HEI will be completed over the summer in line with the normal grant in lieu of tuition fees claim process.
In addition to the measure under reference, I was pleased to secure, for academic year 2023/24, a permanent new rate of student contribution support through SUSI. For students whose families have incomes between €62,000 and €100,000, there will be a new grant of €500 towards the undergraduate student contribution payable by free fees eligible undergraduate students. I also increased the income limit for students to avail of the 50% student contribution grant. These measures mean that 42,500 to 50,000 extra students may be eligible for additional help towards paying the undergraduate student contribution.
