Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
1292. 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. [42161/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder this Department’s Free Fees Initiative (FFI), the Exchequer provides funding toward the tuition fee costs of eligible undergraduate higher education students exclusive of the student contribution. In order to qualify for funding under the FFI, students must meet the criteria of the scheme including the repeat year period of study criteria.
The free fees criteria sets out that, with limited exceptions (such as ill health), tuition fees will not be paid in respect of students undertaking a repeat period of study at the same year level. In this regard students who have previously pursued a course of third level study which has attracted exchequer funding (e.g. fees, maintenance, tax relief, subsidy towards course cost) and have not secured a qualification and subsequently resume third level studies within 5 years are not eligible for free fees for the equivalent period of time spent on the first course.
However, once an equivalent period of study has been completed on the new course, the student may become eligible for free fees funding for the remainder of the course where they meet all other criteria of the free fees scheme.
The assessment of eligibility under the Free Fees Initiative (FFI) in individual cases is a matter for each higher education institution to determine within the terms of the scheme.
Applications to undertake a repeat period of study are made directly to individual higher education institutions. Higher education institutions are autonomous institutions as provided for in legislation and on that basis the management of the academic affairs including the criteria governing the level of repeat tuition fees to be charged are solely a matter for the relevant institution to determine in line with its own criteria. In this regard any repeat fees payable by a student will vary by institution.
As estimated cost of the state introducing a scheme to fully supporting all repeat fees charged by Higher Education Institutions is not readily available.
