Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 July 2023
1431. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated amount it would cost to reduce the student contribution by €1,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36196/23]
View answer1450. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated full-year cost of abolishing the student contribution charge; the estimated cost of maintaining the €1,000 reduction into the 2023-2024 college year; the estimated 2023-2024 cost of extending the other one-off reductions to thresholds and grants as provided for in 2022-2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36893/23]
View answer1451. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated full-year cost of permanently reducing the student contribution charge to €1,000 or €1,500, respectively; the estimated first-year cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36894/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1431, 1450 and 1451 together.
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. 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 matters pertaining to the cost of education. I am doing this in order to facilitate a public discussion on the various choices available to amend student supports. These options will be considered as part of the deliberations around Budget 2024.
The options will build upon permanent changes made in previous Budgets, including Budget 2023 where we introduced a range of changes to student supports including adjustments to the Student Grant Scheme 2023. These included: a new student contribution grant of €500 for persons earning under €100,000; an increase in the income limit for the 50% student contribution grant; and an increase in the postgraduate fee grant by €500 from €3,500 to €4,000.
In Budget 2023, the Government also introduced a range of measures to support people with the cost of living. The package provided for adjustments to the level of funding available through existing supports provided by my Department, including once-off measures in the academic year 2022/23. The estimated costs of implementing similar cost of living measures in 23/24 under the student grant scheme are as follows:
• Once-off extra student grant maintenance payment: circa €18.6m
• Increase the postgraduate fee grant from €4,000 to €4,500: circa €1m (This factors in the permanent increase of the postgraduate fee grant by €500 from €3,500 to €4,000 made in the Student Grant Scheme 2023).
The potential costs associated with a flat rate reduction in the student contribution in 23/24 are currently estimated as follows:
• €1,000 (reduction to €2,000): circa €92m
• €1,500 (reduction to €1,500): circa €138m
• €3,000 (abolish the contribution): circa €255m
The above figures are the estimated net cost to the State after adjusting for savings that would accrue on the Student Grant Scheme.
The above estimates are the most up to date available at this time. They are subject to change as new data becomes available on the number of students eligible or projected to be eligible for the Free Fees Initiative or Student Grant Scheme.
