Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 September 2020
43. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on the abolition of the €3,000 student contribution fees to enable genuinely free education. [22513/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Department’s free fees schemes, the Exchequer provides funding toward the tuition fee costs of eligible undergraduate Higher Education students with students paying the student contribution.
The student contribution fee is currently set at €3,000 per annum and can be paid in instalments. The State pays the contribution in full or part for an estimated 44 per cent of all students eligible for free fees funding through SUSI.
It should be noted that an abolition of the student contribution would require additional state funding of €242 million per annum, which is the estimated net cost to the Exchequer factoring in the subsequent estimated reduction in the SUSI Student Grant budget. The costs for the Exchequer of reducing or abolishing the student contribution would increase in line with the demographic increases expected in the coming years up to 2030.
I have acknowledged that the current rate is too high and a reduction of the rate will be considered over the lifetime of the Government. The potential amendments will be considered as part of the strategic reform of higher education funding and in view of the objective of ensuring access to and continued participation in higher education by students from disadvantaged backgrounds and from families who have been disproportionately impacted by Covid.
Examination of the student contribution will focus on how best to alleviate this cost to ensure that the critical role of higher education in ensuring all students achieving their potential is maximised.
I am conscious of the impact of the pandemic has had on students. In July I announced the provision of additional student assistance including a doubling of the Student Assistance Fund, and a €15 million technology fund.
