Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 June 2023
804. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated full-year cost of abolishing third-level registration and tuition fees for repeating students including the associated reduction in the student support grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31167/23]
View answerI thank the Deputy for raising matters in relation to the cost of supporting students with tuition fees and other higher education costs.
In advance of Budget 2024 this autumn, 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. This will include options in respect of repeating students.
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.
In terms of fees and costs which are set by institutions themselves, as the Deputy will be aware, the higher education tuition fee payable by a student can vary depending on a variety factors including the type of course and the fee rates of a particular institution. Higher education institutions are autonomous bodies and are responsible for their own day-to-day management and operational affairs, including the management of academic affairs. They retain the right to determine their own policies and procedures. The total level of fees payable to the institution in the case of repeat fees, postgraduate tuition fees or the charge of any other fees upon registration such as a student levy, in addition to the total number of students enrolled, are generally matter for the relevant institution to determine in line with its own criteria. An estimated cost of the State fully supporting all such fees or all fees for specific courses is therefore not readily available.
