Vol. 443 No. 1
156 Mr. J. Mitchell asked the Minister for Education the total amount of third level fees paid by students and their families; the cost of abolishing all third level fees in a full year; and if there are any compensating savings which would reduce the gross cost of such a policy decision.
In 1994 it is estimated that grant assistance for fees of £51 million will be paid by the State under the various third level student support schemes. In addition it is estimated that students and their families will pay a further £45 million in fees and this latter figure would be the cost of abolishing fees. There are no likely compensating savings in the expenditure programmes for which I am responsible.
