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Third Level Fees

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 November 2021

Tuesday, 30 November 2021

Ceisteanna (117)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Ceist:

117. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if reducing fees for students will be considered as part of sustainable funding model brought forward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58642/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

In considering fees, it is important to note that the State currently provides very substantial financial support to undergraduate students in higher education towards the cost of their studies.

This commitment is demonstrated through the high level of fees support amounting to in excess of €540m per annum provided by the State for large numbers of students participating in higher education. This comprises tuition fee funding via the Free Fees Schemes under which the Exchequer currently contributes €357m to meeting the tuition fee costs of over 146,000 eligible undergraduate students in higher education. All students eligible for the scheme receive state support whereby the Exchequer pays the cost of tuition fees exclusive of the student contribution. In addition, over 65,000 students have all or part of the €3,000 student contribution paid on their behalf under the Student Grant Scheme at a cost of over €190m.

This substantial funding support has played a very important role in enabling access to and growth in higher education in Ireland.

My Department's Statement of Strategy, which I published on 8 March last, contains a commitment to put in place a sustainable funding model for the higher education. This is essential in ensuring that our higher education institutions can effectively meet high standards of quality and performance, and achieve critical outcomes for our economy and society.

A comprehensive economic evaluation of the funding options presented in the Report of the Expert Group on Future Funding for Higher Education (2016), was commissioned under the European Commission's Structural Reform Support Programme in November 2019. The final report deliverable was agreed between the Commission (DG Reform) and it's consultants at the end of May 2021.

My Department has commenced its examination of the report's analysis, findings, conclusions and recommendations in order to develop proposals to present to Government to seek it’s support to a sustainable future funding model and transformed FET and HE sector as contained in the Statement of Strategy. Once this examination is concluded the report will be submitted to Government for consideration in advance of its publication (pending agreement with the European Commission as the contracting authority).

I have also been engaging with Government colleagues in relation to future funding for this sector as we work towards Government consideration of the report and decision on the key issues.

In terms of funding, in advance of and since the publication of the 2016 it is important to note that significant programme of re-investment in higher education has been implemented. Since 2015 annual expenditure allocated to higher education has increased by more than 40%. In 2022 this allocation will be in excess of €2billion. This significant allocation of public resources is a clear demonstration of the Government's commitment to meeting the funding needs of the higher education sector.

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