Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 June 2023
1346. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the student registration fee for 2023-2024 will remain the same as last year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27292/23]
View answerI thank the Deputy for raising matters in relation to the cost of supporting students with higher education costs. I am acutely conscious of the challenges facing students and the need for the progressive implementation of measures to address cost as a barrier to education.
I also recognise that costs are not limited to tuition fees or other registration fees payable by students. Students have real cost of living challenges such as fuel, food or accommodation and have specific costs associated with their courses such as books or materials.
In Budget 2023, the Government introduced a range of measures to support people with the cost of living. As part of this overall response, I introduced a significant package that has seen students and families directly benefit. The package provided for adjustments to the level of funding available through existing supports provided by my Department, including once-off measures in academic year 2022/23. This included a once-off reduction of €1,000 in the student contribution rate payable by students eligible for free tuition fees under the Department’s Free Fees Initiative for academic year 2022/23.
For 2023/24 I was pleased to secure Government agreement to the introduction of 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.
In advance of Budget 2024, and as I did last year, I will be publishing an options paper which will set out various possible measures to address the cost of education. I am doing this in order to facilitate public discussion on the various choices available to amend student supports. I will have regard to these options, including any options in respect of providing additional tuition fee supports or tuition fee contribution costs, when making proposals in the context of Budget discussions.
